Rick Dees

Rick Dees is one of the most recognized voices in American radio — a broadcaster, entertainer, and recording artist whose career spans more than four decades of hit music.

Dees became a defining figure in the industry in 1981, when he took over the morning show at KIIS-FM in Los Angeles. The show rose to #1 in the market and helped make KIIS-FM the highest-revenue radio station in the United States. He later launched the nationally syndicated Daily Dees with Cumulus Media and returned to the top five in Los Angeles on Hot 92.3 FM, alongside television appearances and hosting work.

His signature program, Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, is widely regarded as the gold standard in countdown radio. Distributed by Compass Media Networks, it airs in Mainstream AC, CHR, and Hot AC editions, each with a custom music list built from radio airplay and sales data, supported by a content-rich website and mobile marketing platform. Companion channels — Dees2K, 90s, and 80s editions — stream on the free Rick Dees Hit Music app (iOS and Android) and on iHeart. His weekday offering, Daily Dees, is voice-tracked so stations can drop Rick into any Monday–Friday daypart while playing their own music.

Dees is also the artist behind the novelty smash “Disco Duck,” still available in multiple versions and with its own dedicated streaming channel.

His honors include Billboard Radio Personality of the Year ten years running, a Marconi Award, induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame and the NAB Hall of Fame, and recognition as a Giant of Broadcasting (2025).

Beyond the microphone, Dees is an outdoorsman, farmer, golfer, and self-described amateur pastry chef — a passion that shows up on his site as Dees-SERTS & Savories, a collection of recipes and kitchen tips. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Julie. Their son, Kevin, is president of Creative Development at Dees Entertainment, Inc. and a radio and TV host in his own right.