Friday, July 25, 2008
Music / Post No Bills Dick Buckley's last sign-off
Posted by Peter Margasak on 07.25.08 at 04:26 PM
On Sunday from 2 to 4 PM Dick Buckley, perhaps Chicago's best-known jazz DJ, hosts his final show on WBEZ, where he’s been spinning records for 31 years. Aside from possessing one of the all-time great radio voices, Buckley has a deep knowledge of the music, particularly its first four decades, and his show provided excellent history and context, but his avuncular charm always made it seem like he was simply playing you some of his favorite records.
Buckley was the only jazz host to survive the music purge of station manager Torey Malatia in January of 2007, and programming has been cut back again recently, but I've been told that the decision to retire was his own (Buckley turns 83 next month).
This leaves the station with no jazz shows and only one in-house music show, Tony Sarabia's Radio M--to which I contribute monthly. (It's followed by Afropop Worldwide, but that's produced elsewhere and syndicated.)
Sunday's extended broadcast promises a discussion of Buckley's radio career with fellow WBEZ broadcasters Richard Steele and Dan Bindert.
Today’s playlist:
Nush Werchowksa, Mathias Pontevia, Heddy Boubaker, Glotosifres (Creative Sources)
Satan’s Tornade, Satan’s Tornade (Warp)
Omer Klein, Introducing (Smalls)
Stetsasonic, In Full Gear (Tommy Boy)
Achim Kaufmann, Michael Moore and Dylan van der Schyff, Kamosc (Red Toucan)
Comments (13)
Showing 1-13 of 13
this is truly sad. i am glad that he made it to a point where he could retire on his own will and was not forced out. he will be missed
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Buckley creates some of the best local content on the radio. He will be missed!!!! Now if he were only on the internet! I wish him well!
Dick Buckley looks exactly how I imagined he would look, I've never seen a picture of him before. DB is a treasure, I will seriously miss his shows.
I only wish it was next week when I'm back in the states. We spent many a Sunday afternoon with the man. Thanks Dick.
Thank you, Dick Buckley. For 3 wonderful hours on Sunday afternoon, you shared with us your knowledge and love of big-band jazz. Your voice will be missed.
I'll really miss the show. Sunday afternoons won't be quite the same in Chicago. Thanks for all the music Dick Buckley!
I am truly sad that I missed Dick's last show. I haven't been in Chicago for over 10 years now, but enjoyed the music and education that Mr. Buckley provided. It's a shame that his shows aren't available as podcasts.
i'm gonna miss him. the last show was really fine. wbez better treat him right, and keep him in their family. the dude's a gem. i just love how much he knows about the music, and the information he gave about the recordings when he was spinning tunes for us on the show. "i don't know what they were thinking when they mixed this, but anyway. listen for the clarinet." sigh.
I'll just second what everyone's already said. It was nice to know that for the last year or so, there still was a little bit of jazz on WBEZ, and Dick Buckley was a gem of a DJ to be providing it. I wish I could've caught his last show.
I've been a cab driver in Chicago for 38 years, and have been listening to Dick Buckley since about 1976, and I have loved every broadcast! Dick I have learned so much about jazz, and jazz artist, listening too you. I've also had the pleasure of meeting you three times. I am the guy that gave you the tape of Linda Prince interviewing Sonny Stitt. She asked him a dumb question, and you now how Sonny can light into someone that ask a stupid question! Anyway Dick, you are the best, love the great stories about different jazz people, hope maybe to catch you at The Jazz Showcase one night. YOU ARE THE THE TOP JAZZ DJ IN CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's my humble opinion which I value highly!!!!!!!
