The Buckinghams in Concert

Baby Boomers across Chicago and anyone who listened to rock n’ roll radio around the country in the past 50 years likely knows the name Dick Biondi, aka “The Wild Itralian.” Biondi remains a beloved DJ who made friends and loyal listeners wherever the radio waves would broadcast, from Los Angeles to his native New York, and anywhere 50,000 watts reached in between. Word is making its way around the music community that the beloved icon passed away on June 26, at the age of 90. If ever there was one among a leader board of favorite Chicago DJs whose personality shined across the nighttime, it was Biondi. Credited as the very first American DJ to debut a Beatles record on air, and best known by Chicago music icons as the “man who gave us our first big breaks” with local airplay” when they were first beginning, Dick Biondi was the teenage musician’s friend. Carl Giammarese, lead singer of The Buckinghams, said today, “Dick gave so many of us our first big breaks on r...

When you get a concert ticket to a show you're looking forward to, you’re not expecting anything out of the ordinary beyond a great performance. For Chicago filmmaker Pamela Pulice, though, Saturday’s Cornerstones of Rock Concert was an unforgettable surprise, thanks to the generosity of Arcada Theatre owner Ron Onesti and the Cornerstones artists. [Photo by Jim Summaria.] When Ron called Pam Pulice and Joseph Farina, Director of Marketing & Communications for the film, to the stage, they didn't realize that two music lovers were in the audience, both of whom were poised for maximum generosity, could change the film's future so quickly. Backstage, all the musicians of the Cornerstones bands had autographed a guitar for auction. Onesti went to work as auctioneer and funds for the Biondi documentary were secured. In fact, a second guitar was signed and auctioned to another winning bidder for the same amount. This photo shows Ron Onesti, Pam Pulice, and Joe Farin...

If you’ve been on the fence about being able to attend Sunday’s great 89th Birthday Bash for Dick Biondi, Chicagoland’s beloved Radio Hall of Fame and Illinois Rock & Roll Hall of Fame DJ, you’re in luck. The Arcada Theatre is where you want to be at 2pm Sunday, Sept. 19th because that’s when the big show begins! Get your $49 SALE tickets here ! Pam Pulice, Director of “The Dick Biondi” Film shared, “Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we have a limited amount of $49 seats to Dick Biondi’s Big 89 Birthday Bash! 9 Bands, 1 Show.” She urges, “Get your tickets while they last.” Naturally The Buckinghams will be one of the nine bands appearing, and their drummer Rocky Penn and guitarist Dave Zane will back Felix Cavaliere, thereby becoming temporary Rascals. The show lineup also features The Ides of March, the New Colony 6, The Cave Dwellers, Rosie & the Rivets, Hot Rocks Rolling Stones Tribute, Jimy Sohns of The Shadows of Knight, and Hall of Fame Blues Drummer Merle Pe...

Tuesday, August 31, marks the exciting long-awaited opening of musician Ron Romero’s dream: the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . It’s located in the heart of Joliet, IL, at 9 W. Cass St. "On behalf of the entire Buckinghams band, original lead singer and founding member Dennis Tufano will be representing in the formal Hall of Fame induction ceremony," announced his friend and longtime fellow Buckingham, Carl Giammarese. "It’s poignant and so important that Dennis be there just as he was in the very beginning. The founding member we all considered the “heart” of The Buckinghams, John Poulos, and early founding member George LeGros as well as final founding member, Marty Grebb, are no longer with us. Dennis will share memories from his heart and will be wonderful in representing all of us from the beginning. He’ll also sing a few songs that evening," said Carl. Two early shots of The Pulsations turned The Buckinghams during the early days of WGN-TV...

On August 31, Illinois music fans can be part of an exciting first in classic music history. At 7pm the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet will be the site of the inaugural Annual Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony sponsored by the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66. Twelve inaugural inductees include bands The Buckinghams, the band Chicago, Cheap Trick, The Ides of March, and REO Speedwagon, plus bluesmen Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters. Also to be honored are radio station WLS-AM, popular deejay Larry Lujack and the iconic Dick Biondi (Lifetime Achievement Award) legendary Chess Records, and venue The Thirsty Whale. This is the group originally identified as the Class of 2020, but COVID delayed the opening of the museum and Hall of Fame inauguration. A concert on August 31 will feature live performances by REO Speedwagon, Ides of March, Jimy Sohns (Shadows of Knight), Muddy Waters’ son, Mud Morganfield, New Colony 6, and the Millenials. The band Chicago and The Buckinghams ar...

Paula Monaco shared these photos first on The Buckinghams' Facebook page. They're reposted here as a mini-concert album of a great evening. WLS-FM DJ Dick Biondi, a great friend of The Buckinghams, was on hand to introduce the entertainers. The evening's entertainment began with The Ides of March, Jim Peterik and the entire band offered a great show. Schaumburg's special event celebrated its 40th anniversary of Septemberfest. The fest was also a great opportunity to introduce several talented Schaumburg high school students, pageant finalists for college scholarships. As the young ladies were introduced, they announced their intention to study in colleges across the country in demanding, challenging academic majors. As the sun went down, the Schaumburg Township was in good voice and full force, as a crowd-18,000 strong-as Dick Biondi announced, had assembled. Time to celebrate Chicagoland and hear The Buckinghams as Mr. Biondi introduced Carl Bonafede, former Manager of...

On behalf of The Buckinghams, we would like to congratulate Dick Biondi. June 29 is the date for the dedication of "Dick Biondi Way." We can't think of anyone who deserves the honor of having a street named after him more than Dick. You have helped so many in the music business, including The Buckinghams. We will all be there to honor you. We love you Dick--always your friends, Carl and Nick Radio station/studio image courtesy of Robert Feder's blog: http://www.wbez.org/blog/robert-feder/after-50-years-dick-biondi-gets-his-own-way-chicago

Veteran Chicago journalist Robert Feder had a nice item this morning in his Vocalo blog about how the crowd gathered to hear the Bob Sirott's interview with radio DJ legends Dick Biondi and Herb Kent filled the auditorium and then "overflowed into three satellite rooms" this weekend. Excerpt follows: # Hundreds of fans packed the Columbia College auditorium and overflowed into three satellite rooms Saturday when Bob Sirott interviewed Chicago radio’s greatest living legends, Dick Biondi and Herb Kent, onstage together for the first time. What made a great night even more unforgettable was the presence of many local music legends in the audience to pay tribute to Biondi and Kent. They included Gene “Duke of Earl” Chandler, Marshall Thompson of the Chi-Lites, Ronnie Rice of the New Colony Six, Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna of the Buckinghams, Jim Peterik of The Ides Of March and Survivor, Fred Glickstein of the Flock, and Al Lathan of Four Days and a Night. Among radio...

SPECIAL EVENT SET FOR TONIGHT As Dave Hoekstra reported in today's Chicago Sun-Times newspaper, well-known journalist Bob Sirott will host a special evening, conversation-style tonight at Columbia College Chicago. Hoekstra notes "Herb Kent the Kool Gent" and Dick (the Wild I-Tralian) Biondi are members of The Chicago Radio Hall of Fame. The event is free and open to the public. The interview will be taking place at 7:30 pm in Columbia's Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash, 8th floor. For the full story check out http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/hoekstra/2150208,CST-FTR-radio10.article Bob Sirott promises an evening that will be the most interesting history lesson ever taught about five decades of Chicago radio and two of its most beloved DJs. From Christmas 2009,the UCan Food Drive hosted by Dick Biondi. Here, Carl enjoys annual holiday appearances with Dick for True Oldies 94.7's community endeavors. [Image credits: Dick Biondi's photo by Fred Winston, origina...

Chicago's favorite videographer, known by just one name, McCrackin, has posted two new YouTube videos taken at the 2009 edition of the annual Dick Biondi Toy Drive, where WLS was broadcasting live to raise money and get new toys donated for UCAN. The community really responded and they were able to raise substantial dollars and now have toys to make Christmas brighter for so many Chicagoland children, who would otherwise be thinking Santa forgot them this year. Carl dedicated his song, "Have a Little Faith" to all the men and women serving our armed forces, who have to be away from their loved ones during the holiday season. This song is from "The Joy of Christmas" CD by The Buckinghams. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSZ3DVP2iDE Here is the holiday duet of Dick Biondi, who joked that people had offered him $60 NOT to sing, singing with Carl Giammarese on "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibnWZtHsKpY Also on YouTube h...

The annual Christmas toy drive held by WLS Radio and favorite DJ Dick Biondi goes on all day today, November 27th, until 10 pm at the Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale. Carl Giammarese will be stopping by around 12 noon in the Sears court area. One of the toy drive's sponsors, The NECA & IBEW, made a very generous $5,000 cash donation to provide children's toys. Other sponsors include Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates attorneys, and Fisher-Price. If you can't get to the Stratford Mall in person, tune in to www.947trueoldies.com and listen online. Stay tuned to 94.7 for announcements of additional toy drive locations during the holiday season.