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...

“The activities that have been made possible for The Buckinghams as a band and me personally have been substantial this year. It’s a period of reflection for me as we’ve just celebrated Thanksgiving, we’re in the season of Hanukkah, and the Advent season where we await Christmas. At this time more than any other time of the year, I reflect on how fortunate I feel to be “from Chicago” and to have made this amazing city my home for my entire life.” Those are the words of Carl Giammarese from a recent phone interview. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of “getting ready for the holidays” and the busy-ness of business, planning for concert appearances, making travel plans for the upcoming concert dates and then maintaining proficiency at keeping the highest performing caliber that audiences have come to expect. This weekend The Buckinghams will be performing in what has come to be one of the most popular shows each year—the Cornerstones of Rock show, that started in t...

On Sunday, September 19, you’re invited to Ron Onesti’s Arcada Theatre, in St. Charles, IL, for an unforgettable special event, all in celebration of Dick Biondi’s 89th birthday. The nationally recognized DJ was on WLS-AM 890 back in the days when Chicago groups were coming to national prominence thanks to 50,000 Watts of broadcast power and the power of his outstanding promotion and that of station executives. Filmmaker Pam Pulice, founder of The Dick Biondi Documentary, close to completion, is supporting the event, together with host Ron Onesti at the historic Arcada Theatre. Several nationally acclaimed and Chicagoland musicians from our historic concert lineup over the past six decades will be present. Some groups will be participating in a bonus VIP experience as well. Unfortunately, The Buckinghams will not be able to be part of the VIP experience for this event, so please purchase your VIP tickets for others who indicate they will be present at 12-2 pm, but The Bucki...

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...

// Home » Blogs » Alicia Spates's blog Best Bets for August: DuPage County Edition Submitted by Alicia Spates on July 28, 2009 - 10:42am WOOD DALE PRAIRIE FEST The seventh annual Wood Dale Prairie Fest (formerly the Wood Dale Family Fun Days) boasts a wide variety of food and regional and national music acts, including this year’s featured entertainment, The Buckinghams. The festival will also have fireworks, a carnival and pet parade. WHERE Wood Dale’s Town Square, Wood Dale Road and Commercial Street, Wood Dale WHEN 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14; 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15; and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16 COST Free CONTACT Office of Special Events, (630) 787-3715 ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP FOR PRAIRIE FEST: Saturday, August 15, 2009 3:00pm - The Fairlanes 5:30pm - Ides of March 8:00pm - The Buckinghams Alicia Spates' full blog at: http://otg.mysuburbanlife.com/2009/07/28/best-bets-august-dupage-county-edition

Cook County Update from today's Chicago Daily Herald http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=303951&src=1 Staff Report follows: Autographed guitar raffled off: The Mount Prospect Lions Club is raffling off a collector's rock guitar autographed by Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven, Ronnie Rice, and band members from the Buckinghams, The Ides of March, Shadows of Knight, the Cryan Shames, Jan and Dean and others. Tickets will be sold at the raffle booth at the Mount Prospect Lions Club Festival, which runs through Sunday, July 5, in Melas Park. Only 500 will be sold for $10 each. The drawing will be held at 9 p.m. Sunday. The winner need not be present. To view the guitar, go to wix.com/lionsclub/guitar . In the middle of the guitar, underneath the strings, click on the signature of Carl Giammarese and see what comes up.

Songs of the Sixties hit Star Plaza stage By Tom Lounges Times Correspondent | Saturday, May 30, 2009 | "It'll be like getting a live greatest hits album on stage with a few surprises," said Carl Giammarese, co-founder of The Buckinghams, voted "the most popular band in America of 1967" by national teen publications of the era. And hits they had. The Buckinghams dominated the national pop charts and radio playlists from 1966 to 1968 with a steady stream of singles anchored by catchy melodies, tight harmonies and sporting titles like –– "Kind Of A Drag," "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)," "Don't You Care," "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," "Susan," and their indelible version of the old Lloyd Price classic, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy." "When we first started, I was a senior at at Lane Tech High School and the guys would come and pick me up at school so we could get to a gig," Giammarese said. "Ou...

Join Us for Two Special Evenings with The Chicago Hitmakers, May 29th & May 30th Hear New Music and Timeless Classics from The Buckinghams with The Ides of March, featuring Jim Peterik and Ronnie Rice, former lead singer of New Colony Six Friday, May 29, 7:30 pm Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, IL For tickets, go to www.ticketmaster.com, or charge-by-phone at 800.982.2787 Saturday, May 30, 7:30 pm Star Plaza Theatre, Merrillville, IN For tickets, go to www.ticketmaster.com, or purchase tickets by phone at 800.745.3000