Greensboro Native Rick Dees, Radio Legend Who Started His Career in North Carolina, to Be Honored as a 2025 Giant of Broadcasting in New York City
GREENSBORO, NC - November 10, 2025 – The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) will celebrate Greensboro's own Rick Dees as one of its most distinguished honorees at the prestigious 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony. A true son of North Carolina, Dees grew up in Greensboro, where he honed his passion for radio and launched a career that would redefine entertainment for generations. The event takes place from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14, at the iconic Gotham Hall in New York City.
Rick Dees is a Greensboro-raised icon whose infectious energy and innovative spirit first took root in the Tar Heel State. A graduate of Grimsley High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dees began his broadcasting journey at local North Carolina stations, captivating audiences with his quick wit and musical flair. From those humble beginnings, he skyrocketed to national stardom, creating the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum novelty hit "Disco Duck" in 1976, which sold well over six million copies worldwide, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and earned him a People's Choice Award, solidifying his status as a Platinum Recording Artist.
"Receiving this Giants award feels like a full-circle moment for me—back to the North Carolina roots where it all started in Greensboro," said Dees. "From spinning records at local stations to entertaining the world on a global stage, broadcasting has been my life's soundtrack. I'm humbled to join this extraordinary class of honorees and grateful for the journey that began right here at home."
Joining Dees among the 2025 honorees are fellow trailblazers including award-winning actor and producer Kelsey Grammer; ABC News anchor and managing editor David Muir; retired TEGNA Inc. executive vice president Lynn Beall; communications attorney John R. Feore, Jr.; retired Cox Radio Group executive vice president Dick Ferguson; acclaimed actor Gary Sandy, best known for WKRP in Cincinnati; and Hall of Fame sportscaster Lesley Visser. ABC News Radio national correspondent Steven Portnoy will receive the LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award.
Bill Whitaker, CBS News correspondent and 2018 Giant honoree, emcees the ceremony. The event, presented by the LABF—a nonprofit dedicated to preserving broadcasting's rich history—celebrates innovators who have shaped media and culture. Beasley Media Group supports this year's gala, with TEGNA Inc. and ABC News as Diamond sponsors.
Since 2003, LABF has honored over 260 broadcasting leaders, with proceeds funding the expansion of its world-class collection at the University of Maryland and supporting the Broadcast Education Association.
For more details, contact Debbie Beagan-Carcich, 2025 Giants Event Producer, at debbie@giantsofbroadcasting.org or 732-245-7799. Visit https://www.tvradiolibrary.org/giants-2025 for full honoree bios.
About Rick Dees
Rick Dees is a Grammy-nominated Platinum Recording Artist, broadcast pioneer, entertainer, producer and entrepreneur whose iconic career has blended music, humor, and innovation to captivate global audiences. Dive into the full Rick Dees universe from A to Z at Rick.com.
About the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF)
The LABF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to preserving the past, reflecting the present, and informing the future of broadcasting. For more, visit https://www.tvradiolibrary.org/.
Dees transformed KIIS-FM in Los Angeles into both the nation's highest-rated and highest-revenue-producing station, delivering extraordinary financial success to the group during his tenure. His iconic Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 countdown continues to entertain millions as a true global phenomenon, with its seamless mix of hit music, storytelling, and wit. A 10-time consecutive Billboard Radio Personality of the Year winner, Marconi Award recipient, National Radio Hall of Fame inductee, and Hollywood Walk of Fame star holder, Dees remains a trailblazing entrepreneur and voice-over artist today, continuing to innovate through his Rick Dees Hit Music app—a brand expansion platform that harnesses the universal power of music to connect and engage on a visceral level—and inspiring even more new ventures that bridge generations and cultures.
