Longtime Chicago Disc Jockey Dick Biondi Dead At 90

CHICAGO, IL — Legendary Chicago disc jockey Richard "Dick" Biondi died this week, WLS-AM 890 announced Saturday. He was 90.

Biondi spent most of his 67-year career entertaining audiences in Chicago, including stations WLS, WCFL, WMAQ, WBBM and WJMK. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1998.

An Upstate New York native, Biondi moved to Chicago in 1960. Thanks to WLS's powerful, 50,000-watt signal, his show introduced listeners to rock and roll in nearly 40 states and parts of Canada. He's credited as the first U.S. disc jockey to play The Beatles, putting "Please Please Me" on WLS's airwaves in February 1963.

Biondi died peacefully at home Monday, according to WLS. His family held a private internment.