The Relationship

You might expect a piece like this when one retires or passes on.

But, I heard it from "The Man" loud and clear.

On the other end of the phone was the legendary Dick Biondi, inviting me to one of his record hops.

Just prior to the invitation, he expressed angst about last year's legendary Dick Biondi 36-hour toy drive -- and obsessed about how the "new company" put him on a pedestal and he couldn't touch his people.

"Kevin, they put me on a riser, put my face on a big screen and roped off the stage; I couldn't get down to talk to my people," he said.

Here's a talent, who was well on the way to legendary stature before most of us were born, hungering ... even now ... for access to his fans.

For those who need schooling, Dick introduced the Beatles at The Hollywood Bowl, is feted in the Radio Hall of Fame, and hosted the first nationally syndicated music show in the country (among hundreds of other mileposts).

And all he wants to do is connect with his listeners. That's it.

This, in a time where I hear programmers asking for advice on how to motivate their air talent to "get out" into the listeners' world.

My wish would be for every young air talent to witness Dick, on site, in action.

Dick isn't the best on-air talent of all time' Dick wasn't a Drake Boss Jock and often times is plain sloppy on-air.

But Dick Biondi is the very best at developing a connection, a relationship with his listeners.

No contest. Period.

And in our voicetracked, XM vs. Sirius, iPod, You Tube, texting world ... isn't that what it's all about?