Dick Buckley
August 26, 1925 – July 22, 2010
Dick Buckley was a radio personality who, since 1956, hosted a popular jazz program that focused on jazz’s golden era, the ’30s and ’40s. His program, Jazz With Dick Buckley, ran on Chicago’s WBEZ from 1977 until his retirement in 2008. Buckley was known for having an exceptionally lush and deep radio voice and for having a vast knowledge of jazz. Dick Buckley was 85 when he died of complications from pneumonia on July 22, 2010.
Dick was one of a kind. I had the opportunity to meet him and banter and barter with him(over the air and off) about jazz, blues and Classics. He loved Barrett Deems and Deemus! At the time of one WBEZ fundraisers, I bet him that he couldn’t find anything that beat Paul Gonzalves solo with Duke Ellington at Newport. He called me back and said “Paul you win” He was the best! PK