Editing Rick Dees

{{Short description|American radio personality (born 1950)}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2010}}
{{Infobox person
| name                  = Rick Dees
| image                 = Rick Dees in KIIS FM studio.jpg
| caption               = Dees in 1986
| birth_name            = Rigdon Osmond Dees III
| birth_date            = {{birth date and age|1950|3|14}}
| birth_place           = [[Jacksonville, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date            = 
| death_place           = 
| death_cause           = 
| education             = [[Grimsley High School]]<br />[[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]
| known_for             = {{hlist|[[Rick Dees Weekly Top 40]]|[[Disco Duck]]|[[La Bamba (film)|La Bamba]]}}
| occupation            = Radio personality, entertainer, comedic performer
| years_active          = 
| spouse                = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Carolyn R Craft |1973|1977}}
* {{marriage|[[Julie McWhirter]]|1977|}}
}}
| children              = Kevin Dees 
| website               = https://rick.com}}

'''Rigdon Osmond Dees III''' (born March 14, 1950), best known as '''Rick Dees''', is an American entertainer, radio personality, comedian, actor, and voice artist, best known for his internationally syndicated radio show ''[[Rick Dees Weekly Top 40|The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown]]'' and for the 1976 satirical novelty song "[[Disco Duck]]".

Dees is a [[People's Choice Awards|People's Choice Award]] recipient, a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]]-nominated performing artist, and Broadcast Hall of Fame inductee. He performed the title song for the film ''[[Meatballs (film)|Meatballs]]''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079540/soundtrack Soundtracks for Meatballs (1979)], IMDb.com; accessed June 20, 2015.</ref> He co-founded the [[E. W. Scripps Company#Broadcasting|E. W. Scripps television]] network [[Fine Living (European TV channel)|Fine Living]], now the [[Cooking Channel]], and has hosted ''Rick Dees in the Morning'' at [[KIIS-FM]] and [[KRRL|KHHT]] in [[Los Angeles]]. Today he continues his own syndicated daily radio show, ''Daily Dees'' and the syndicated ''Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown'' and the voice announcer on the network [[Rewind TV]].

==Early life==
Dees was born Rigdon Osmond Dees III in [[Jacksonville, Florida]], on March 14, 1950. He was raised in [[Greensboro, North Carolina]]. Dees graduated from Greensboro's [[Grimsley High School]] and the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] with a bachelor's degree in motion pictures, TV, and radio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://college.unc.edu/2015/11/celebrating-40-years-rick-dees-student-production-fund/|title=Celebrating 40 years: Rick Dees Student Production Fund|date=November 5, 2015|website=University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill College of Arts and Sciences Articles|access-date=August 25, 2019|archive-date=August 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825153203/https://college.unc.edu/2015/11/celebrating-40-years-rick-dees-student-production-fund/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Career==
===Radio===
Dees began his radio career at a [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] radio station called [[WKEW|WGBG]] while still in high school.<ref name=nab>{{cite news|title=NAB Award Winner—Rick Dees|work=Radio Journal|date=April 2007|url=http://ftp.media.radcity.net/ZMST/NAB/RJNAB07.pdf|access-date=March 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326011335/http://ftp.media.radcity.net/ZMST/NAB/RJNAB07.pdf|archive-date=March 26, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He worked for various radio stations throughout the southeastern United States, including WCAR<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wxyc.org/history |title=History WXYC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816020344/https://wxyc.org/history|archive-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> (now known as [[WXYC]]) in [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina]]; [[WAGG|WSGN]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://walkoffame.com/rick-dees|title=Rick Dees|date=25 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119082158/https://walkoffame.com/rick-dees|archive-date=January 19, 2021}}</ref> in [[Birmingham, Alabama]]; and [[WKIX (AM)|WKIX]] in [[Raleigh, North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reelradio.com/jesm/index.html|title=Reel Top 40 Radio Repository|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112223818/http://reelradio.com/jesm/index.html|archive-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>

His introduction to the international entertainment arena began while working at [[WMFS (AM)|WMPS AM]] 680 ("The Great 68") in [[Memphis, Tennessee]], during the [[disco]] craze of the mid-to-late-1970s. He wrote and recorded "[[Disco Duck]]" in 1976; it sold more than six million copies. The song can be heard in ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'' in a brief scene in which a group of older people were learning to "move their feet to the disco beat". While this platinum recording earned him a [[People's Choice Award]] for Favorite New Song,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1977|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509202750/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1977|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 9, 2016|title=1977 Nominees & Winners|access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref> and the BMI Award for record sales in one year<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rick Dees |date=25 October 2019 |url=https://walkoffame.com/rick-dees/}}</ref>,{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} Dees was expressly forbidden from playing the song on the air by station management (rival stations refused to play it for fear of promoting their competition). Dees was fired from WMPS when he mentioned that his song, "Disco Duck", was almost number 1, and his own radio station would not let him play it. The station manager said it was a [[conflict of interest]]. Dees did not perform the actual duck vocals on the song since he could not "talk like a duck".{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} The duck vocals were recorded at Shoestring Productions in [[Memphis, Tennessee]] by Ken Pruitt, who moved away before the song became popular, and the vocals for the duck were done by Michael Chesney of Memphis for the concert tour. Chesney had done some comedic voices for Dees prior to Disco Duck. The tour went from Disney World to New York City, billed as ''Rick Dees and The Cast of Idiots''. After a 45-day [[non-compete clause]] in his contract was satisfied, Dees was hired by [[RKO General|RKO Radio]] to do the morning show at [[WHBQ (AM)|WHBQ]] AM 560 in Memphis.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

The success of Dees at their Memphis radio station, combined with his TV appearances and hit music, motivated station owner [[RKO General]] to offer Rick the morning radio show in [[Los Angeles]] at [[KHJ (AM)]]. Dees helped their ratings, but AM music radio was rapidly losing ground to FM. When KHJ switched to country music, Dees left KHJ, taking a morning position at [[KIIS-FM]]<ref name=larg/> in July 1981. In a short time, he turned KIIS-FM into the #1 revenue-generating radio station in America, with an asset value approaching half a billion dollars.

He began his ''[[Rick Dees Weekly Top 40|Weekly Top 40]]'' countdown program, still currently in [[Radio syndication|syndication]], on the weekend of October 8–9, 1983 on 18 stations;<ref>Radio and Records Issue Dated 10-07-83 page 37</ref> the show was created after Dees's station KIIS dropped ''[[American Top 40]]'' in a dispute over the playing of network commercials.<ref>Durkee, Rob. ''American Top 40: The Countdown of the Century''. {{ISBN|0-02-864895-1}}. New York City: Schirmer Books, 1999. Accessed December 10, 2007.</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2018}} The ''Weekly Top 40'' has been heard each weekend in over 200 countries worldwide and the [[Armed Forces Radio Network]]. It is distributed domestically by Compass Media Networks and internationally by Dees Entertainment International (through [[Radio Express]]). In December 2008, the ''Weekly Top 40'' became the first English-speaking radio show to air in China. The syndicated Countdown is available in several different editions including ''Hit Radio'' (for [[Top 40 (radio format)|contemporary hit radio]] stations), ''Hot Adult'' ([[hot adult contemporary]] radio stations), 80s Edition and 90s Edition on terrestrial radio stations around the world.

After 23 years on radio station KIIS-FM, Dees left in February 2004 with no official explanation,<ref>Anderson, Dick (2004). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-feb-23-et-counterpunch23-story.html''KIIS gives longtime DJ Rick Dees short shrift'']. LA Times archive</ref> and he was replaced by [[Ryan Seacrest]]. Dees returned to Los Angeles radio in August 2006 on [[KLLI (FM)|KMVN]], Movin 93.9, hosting the morning show along with Patti "Long Legs" Lopez and Mark Wong. On April 15, 2009, Movin 93.9 dismissed its radio personalities and changed the format to [[Spanish language|Spanish]] contemporary music after a leasing of the station to Mexico City business Grupo Radio Centro. Dees was one of the last voices on the station before the flip, redirecting listeners of his show to RICK.COM. On April 20, 2011, Dees returned for the second time, this time at KIIS's sister station KHHT, following the station's formatting shift to a Gold-based Rhythmic AC. His show at KHHT lasted for a year. 

Dees continues distribution of his ''Rick Dees Weekly Top 40'' Countdown globally to terrestrial radio stations and streaming in the U.S., making it the longest continuously running countdown featuring pop music in the world. He also continues to host the syndicated ''Daily Dees'' show, and can be heard in [[Hawaii]] on [[KNKR-LP|Kohala Radio KNKR 96.1 FM]] each morning live.

Dees has garnered many accolades, including the Marconi Award, induction into both the [[National Radio Hall of Fame]], and the [[National Association of Broadcasters]] Hall Of Fame. In 1984, he received a Grammy Award nomination for his comedy album ''Hurt Me Baby – Make Me Write Bad Checks'' and has since received the Grammy Governor's Award. His other comedy albums – ''I'm Not Crazy'', ''Rick Dees Greatest Hit (The White Album)'', and ''Put It Where The Moon Don't Shine'' have also enjoyed worldwide success. He is an inductee in the North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame, the Tennessee Radio Hall Of Fame, has received the Billboard Radio Personality Of The Year award for 10 consecutive years,<ref name=larg>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/LA-Radio-Guide/LA-Radio-Guide-1994-12.pdf Rick Dees puts a new spin on success top -40 style.] Los Angeles Radio Guide. Vol. 1 No. 4. 1994</ref> received a [[People's Choice Award]],{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} and has been awarded a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/rick-dees/|title=Rick Dees - Hollywood Star Walk|last=Cromelin|first=Richard|date=June 8, 2010|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 25, 2019}}</ref>

Dees, through his holding company Rick Dees Entertainment, would sign a deal with [[iHeartMedia]] in March 2025 enabling the company to access the archive of ''Weekly Top 40'', including the addition of 2 permanent [[iHeartRadio]] webstreams of the show's archival material, one focused on the current programs and a "Classic" channel focused on his old broadcasts from the 1980s to 2000s. As a promotion for the deal, he would briefly reunite with former co-host Ellen K during her morning show on [[KOST-FM]] on March 21 of that year.<ref>[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/297033/rick-dees-partners-with-iheartmedia-for-two-streaming-channels/ Rick Dees Partners with IHeartMedia for Two Streaming Channels]</ref>

===Films and television===
In television, Dees hosted his own late-night show<ref>{{cite web |title=Mädchen Amick on Into the Night With Rick Dees |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_LSK5_pyKs |website=Youtube.com | date=16 September 2014 |access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref> on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television network in the early 1990s, ''Into the Night Starring Rick Dees'',<ref>{{IMDb title|0292806|Into the Night Starring Rick Dees}}</ref> which ran for one season and was canceled due to low ratings.<ref>Groupe, Kasan. (2010-09-13) [http://www.linkroll.com/Movies-TV-Arts-and-Entertainment--299307-Failed-Talk-Show-Hosts-Part-2.html Failed Talk Show Hosts Part 2]. Linkroll.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-21.</ref> He has guest-starred on ''[[Roseanne (TV series)|Roseanne]]'', ''[[Married... with Children]]'', ''[[Diagnosis: Murder]]'' and many other hit shows. In addition, Dees hosted the syndicated series ''[[Solid Gold (TV series)|Solid Gold]]'' from Paramount Television, and his voice has been a part of numerous animated features, including ''[[The Flintstones]]'', where he starred as Rock Dees, and ''[[Jetsons: The Movie]]'', where he voiced Rocket Rick.

In feature films, Dees starred in ''[[La Bamba (film)|La Bamba]]'', portraying the iconic [[Ted Quillin]], the [[Los Angeles]] [[disc jockey]] who helped launch Ritchie Valens's career.

His voice was heard as the radio DJ during the opening credits of the film ''[[Valley Girl (1983 film)|Valley Girl]]'', released in 1983.

In 2020, Dees provided the voice of [[Peter Griffin]]'s impression of him in the ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "La Famiglia Guy".

In August 2021, it was announced that Dees would be the voice announcer of the [[Nexstar Media Group]] network [[Rewind TV]], showcasing shows from the 80s and 90s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 17, 2021|title=Rewind TV Welcomes the Iconic Voice of Rick Dees, Award-Winning Radio Legend, as Principal Network Announcer|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/rewind-tv-welcomes-rick-dees/|access-date=May 16, 2025|website=[[Nexstar Media Group]]}}</ref>

==''Fisher v. Dees'' and other legal trouble==
{{main|Fisher v. Dees}}

In 1984, Dees (and his record company) made a request of Marvin Fisher, the owner of the copyright in the music of the song "When Sunny Gets Blue", for permission to use the song in a [[parody]] of the performance by [[Johnny Mathis]]. Fisher refused to grant permission for the use. Dees decided to do a parody even without the permission of the copyright holder, using about 29 seconds of the song in a parody album titled ''Put It Where the Moon Don't Shine''.

Fisher sued Dees for [[copyright infringement]]. The trial court found that the [[parody]] song, titled "When Sonny Sniffs Glue," was clearly intended to "poke fun" at the style of singing for which Johnny Mathis was well known, and thus was not infringing. The decision was upheld on appeal, in ''[[Fisher v. Dees]]'' [[Court citation|794 F.2d 432]] (9th Cir. 1986).<ref>A reference to the text of the decision in ''Fisher v. Dees'' appears at Law.UCLA.edu, webpage: {{cite web|url=http://cip.law.ucla.edu/cases/case_fisherdees.html |title=Arch-402-UCLAedu |access-date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218115402/http://cip.law.ucla.edu/cases/case_fisherdees.html |archive-date=December 18, 2008}}.</ref>

In an unrelated 1991 case, Dees was successfully sued for $10 million in damages. The court found Dees and his business manager acted with "malice and oppression" in diverting profits from Dees's Top 40 countdown program and gave the judgment to a former business partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-20-ca-485-story.html |title=Verdict Against Rick Dees: Law: More than $10 million in damages in 'Top 40' radio suit is awarded to ex-partner of KIIS deejay and his business manager|date=1991-03-20|first1=Claudia|last1=Puig|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=2018-08-20}}</ref>

==Discography==
* 1976 – ''[[The Original Disco Duck]]''
* 1981 – ''Gift Rappin'''
* 1983 – ''Hurt Me Baby – Make Me Write Bad Checks''
* 1984 – ''Put It Where the Moon Don't Shine''
* 1985 – ''I'm Not Crazy''
* 1986 – ''Rick Dees Greatest Hit (The White Album)'' (Macola Records MRC-0971)
* 1996 – ''Spousal Arousal''
* 2008 – ''Rick and Steve Theme Song''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Song !! [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicvf.com/Rick+Dees+%2526+His+Cast+of+Idiots.songs#gsc.tab=0|title=Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots - Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography|website=musicvf.com|accessdate=May 13, 2025}}</ref> !! [[Kent Music Report|Australia]]<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=86}}</ref>!! [[UK Singles Chart]]<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 148}}</ref>
|-
| 1976 || "[[Disco Duck|Disco Duck (Part One)]]" || #1 || #4 || #6
|-
| 1977 || "Dis-Gorilla (Part One)" || #56 || – || –
|-
| 1978 || "Bigfoot" || #110 (Bub. Under) || – || –
|-
| 1984 || "Get Nekked" || #104 (Bub. Under) ||  – || –
|-
| 1984 || "Eat My Shorts" || #75 || – || –
|-
|}

==Filmography==
{{expand section|date=August 2024}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.rick.com/ Official website Rick.com]
* {{IMDb name|id=0214418}}
* {{rhof|id=192|name=Rick Dees}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201200/http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=134740&pt=todaysnews Country's Gone & Dees "Gets Movin" To Mornings At 93.9 LA]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dees, Rick}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:American comedy musicians]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:American radio DJs]]
[[Category:Musicians from Jacksonville, Florida]]
[[Category:Musicians from Greensboro, North Carolina]]
[[Category:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni]]
[[Category:Parody musicians]]
[[Category:RSO Records artists]]
[[Category:Grimsley High School alumni]]
[[Category:Comedians from Florida]]
[[Category:Comedians from North Carolina]]
[[Category:American novelty song performers]]