Person biography:
Rick Dees is a renowned comedic performer and radio personality who has made a lasting impact in the entertainment industry. Born with a captivating enthusiasm and quick-witted style, Dees has become a mainstay of American entertainment. His internationally syndicated radio show, "The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40", is heard by over 70 million people worldwide, including every city in the United States, 125 countries, and on the Armed Forces Radio Network.
Early in his career, Dees became the hottest property in radio when he began hosting the top-rated morning radio show in Los Angeles on KIIS-FM in July 1981. He quickly turned KIIS-FM into the number one revenue-generating radio station in America, earning him numerous accolades, including being named Billboard Radio Personality Of The Year ten years in a row.
Dees expanded his entertainment brands to mobile apps, creating innovative hit music apps such as BYOChannel and the Rick Dees Hit Music app. He also introduced his "Rick Dees Weekly Top 40" and "Daily Dees" directly into the hands of every Apple and Android device owner.
Rick Dees' introduction to the international entertainment arena began during the disco craze of the late 1970s, with his award-winning hit "Disco Duck" selling over six million copies. This platinum recording earned him a People's Choice Award (1977) and the BMI Award for highest record sales in one year. In 1984, Dees received a Grammy Award nomination for his comedy album, "Hurt Me Baby - Make Me Write Bad Checks" and won the Grammy Governor's Award.
Television came calling in the early 1990s with Dees hosting multiple late-night television series on both the ABC and Fox Television Networks. He guest-starred on popular shows such as "Roseanne", "Married With Children", "Cheers", "Diagnosis Murder", and many others. Dees also hosted the popular syndicated hit series "Solid Gold" from Paramount Television and lent his voice to numerous animated features, including "The Flintstones" and "Jetsons: The Movie".
In feature films, Dees held a leading role in the biographical film La Bamba, portraying Ted Quillen, the young man who helped launch the career of rock 'n' roll star Ritchie Valens.
