Jacksonville Native Rick Dees, Born and Raised in the River City Before Conquering Radio Worldwide,
Set for 2025 Giants of Broadcasting Honor in New York
JACKSONVILLE, FL - November 10, 2025 – Jacksonville's prodigal son, Rick Dees, returns to the spotlight as a 2025 Giant of Broadcasting, honored by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) for a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements in radio and entertainment. Born in Jacksonville, Dees spent his formative early years here before his family relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina—laying the foundation for a career that would make him a household name. The celebratory luncheon and awards ceremony unfolds from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14, at Gotham Hall in New York City.
From his Jacksonville beginnings, Rick Dees carried the city's vibrant spirit into a legendary career that redefined morning radio. His debut hit, the 1976 Grammy-nominated "Disco Duck," exploded onto the scene as a multi-platinum sensation that sold well over six million copies worldwide, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and clinched a People's Choice Award, establishing him as a Platinum Recording Artist.
"Jacksonville will always be the starting line for me—where the rhythm of the St. Johns River first synced with my heartbeat for music and mischief," Dees reflected. "This Giants honor is a nod to every dream that began in the First Coast, and I'm thrilled to share it with the world while tipping my hat back home."
The star-studded 2025 class alongside Dees features luminaries like 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 of WKRP in Cincinnati; and Hall of Fame sportscaster Lesley Visser. ABC News Radio national correspondent Steven Portnoy earns the LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award.
CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker, a 2018 Giant, returns as emcee. Hosted by the LABF to preserve broadcasting heritage, the event is supported by Beasley Media Group, with Diamond sponsors TEGNA Inc. and ABC News.
Over two decades, LABF has celebrated more than 260 leaders, using proceeds to enhance its University of Maryland archive and fund Broadcast Education Association initiatives.
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
A Jacksonville-born dynamo, 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 23-year 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.
