I know most of you don't care about radio biz stuff, but to most of us in the biz, things like this are big news...especially when one has been doing mornings on a station for 22 years.

WR



Rick Dees Hangs Up His Headphones

After teasing listeners last week with a "life-changing announcement," longtime KIIS-FM/Los Angeles wake-up host Rick Dees (pictured) revealed early this morning that today's program will be his last for the Clear Channel station. The announcement comes after Clear Channel reportedly offered Dees a multimillion-dollar, five-year deal that included Dees' continued involvement as host of the Premiere-syndicated Weekly Top 40 program. In telling listeners of his decision, Dees said he "owes a debt of gratitude" to his longtime fans and noted that he looks forward "to several more years with the Weekly Top 40. It has been decided that I will no longer do the morning radio show at KIIS-FM. It's a new a day - let's get going." Dees, who joined KIIS 22 years ago, noted that ratings fluctuate but said that his show is the No. 1-revenue generating morning program in L.A. Dees then played Enya's "Only Time," and featured audio highlights from Dees' program from over the years. No on-air statement was made concerning new American Top 40 host Ryan Seacrest, who is expected to succeed Dees at KIIS.

That is big news Wiz! I can still remember listening to him on WMPS AM here in Elvistown back in the 70's! Man, did I ever hate to see him leave for California!

With that kind of talent, he will do well wherever he goes!

Yeah, he's truly one of the great ones...a real innovator of morning radio. Nice thing for him is that if there is a morning show open at another station in L.A. or somewhere like New York, all he has to do is say "hi, it's Rick Dees." He won't have to though. He will be sought out. The other nice thing for Rick is that he's made enough money to retire easily if he wanted to. Trust me. He doesn't. I'm hoping he'll take a few months off though so that he can get a break and freshen up.

DW, Memphis has been a market that has been a catalyst of a lot of great talent. I know you remember Rick. Do you remember Scott Shannon? I think he was also at MPS at one point, but I'm not positive. Scott is the program director and morning show host of WPLJ in New York. He's the guy who is responsible for any "morning zoo" sounding morning show you hear today. He is also the guy who basically created CHR/Top 40 radio in it's present form. He started the now legendary Z Morning Zoo at Z100 in New York back in the 80's, which is currently hosted by former Power 99 Atlanta jock Elvis Duran. He went to L.A. for a stint, but headed back to New York for PLJ. Long story short, he came through Elvistown sometime in the 70's.

See what happens when someone gets me talking radio?

WR

:frown:

I went to a show he had in Osceola AR back in the 70's. He could have been a standup comedian if he had failed in the radio business.
He was definately the most entertaining DJ in Memphis for some time.

WizardRebel Wrote:Yeah, he's truly one of the great ones...a real innovator of morning radio. Nice thing for him is that if there is a morning show open at another station in L.A. or somewhere like New York, all he has to do is say "hi, it's Rick Dees." He won't have to though. He will be sought out. The other nice thing for Rick is that he's made enough money to retire easily if he wanted to. Trust me. He doesn't. I'm hoping he'll take a few months off though so that he can get a break and freshen up.

DW, Memphis has been a market that has been a catalyst of a lot of great talent. I know you remember Rick. Do you remember Scott Shannon? I think he was also at MPS at one point, but I'm not positive. Scott is the program director and morning show host of WPLJ in New York. He's the guy who is responsible for any "morning zoo" sounding morning show you hear today. He is also the guy who basically created CHR/Top 40 radio in it's present form. He started the now legendary Z Morning Zoo at Z100 in New York back in the 80's, which is currently hosted by former Power 99 Atlanta jock Elvis Duran. He went to L.A. for a stint, but headed back to New York for PLJ. Long story short, he came through Elvistown sometime in the 70's.

See what happens when someone gets me talking radio?

WR

Heck, Memphis also boasts BB King as a DJ back over at WDIA back in the day. Dayna Devon joined Extra (?) after being the news anchor at Channel 24 (WPTY-ABC). And there are others...

WizardRebel Wrote:...... Do you remember Scott Shannon? I think he was also at MPS at one point, but I'm not positive. Scott is the program director and morning show host of WPLJ in New York. He's the guy who is responsible for any "morning zoo" sounding morning show you hear today. He is also the guy who basically created CHR/Top 40 radio in it's present form. He started the now legendary Z Morning Zoo at Z100 in New York back in the 80's, which is currently hosted by former Power 99 Atlanta jock Elvis Duran. He went to L.A. for a stint, but headed back to New York for PLJ. Long story short, he came through Elvistown sometime in the 70's.

See what happens when someone gets me talking radio?

WR

Scott Shannon......."Super Shan"....."so nice I'm gonna sock it to you twice"

Scott was one of my all time favorites. He was the afternoon DJ at MPS in the mid-70s before Ron Jordan. Jordan was one weird dude.