Dick Cerri
Dick Cerri | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Anthony Cerri June 1, 1936 Utica, New York, United States |
| Died | October 3, 2013 (aged 77) Silver Spring, Maryland, United States |
| Occupation | Radio personality |
| Years active | 1960 - 1995 |
| Spouse | Eleanor Frates |
| Children | Debbi Cerri |
| Parent(s) | Dominick J. Cerri and Mildred May Issac |
Richard Anthony Cerri, known as Dick Cerri (June 1, 1936 – October 3, 2013) was a well known American folk music disc jockey in Washington, D.C. between 1960 and 1995.[1]
Cerri was born in Utica, New York on June 1, 1936, the younger of two children of Dominick J. Cerri and his wife Mildred May Isaac. Cerri started out in high school as an announcer in Utica on WIBX-AM and moved to ABC affiliate WRUN-AM (see WUTI) where he remained through college. He graduated in 1959 from Utica College.
He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1960 and soon after was employed at WAVA-FM, where he created the show "Music Americana, the Folk Music of America." Cerri hosted and produced at several area radio stations, including WHFS-FM and WJMD-FM which changed call sign to WLTT-FM (see WIAD) where the name of his show was shortened to "Music Americana." He was at WETA-FM from 1970 to 1973 where his brother Bill was also a disc jockey, well known for his classical music show.[2]
Cerri had a very humble view of his reputation as an expert, instead typifying his role as a spectator, albeit a professional one.[1]
Cerri started the World Folk Music Association with singer-songwriter Tom Paxton in 1982 and Cerri served as its president for much of its existence. In the 1980s and 1990s, Cerri also sponsored monthly musical concerts using the name of his radio show "Music Americana."[3]
Cerri retired in the mid-1990s and continued working with the World Folk Music Association (WFMA). He was most recently working on digitizing his "Music Americana" radio shows, a project announced at the "Remembering Dick Cerri: A Celebration in Song", will be completed by the WFMA Foundation. The extent of his influence can be gauged by the musicians at the September 27, 2014 concert: Noel Paul Stookey, Peter Yarrow (from Peter, Paul and Mary), Chad Mitchell, Christine Lavin, Schooner Fare, Squid Jiggers (Dave Rowe & Troy R. Bennett), Donal Leace, Modern Man (Rob Carlson, George Wurzbach and David Buskin), Tom Paxton, Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen, Bill Danoff, Mack Bailey, Anne Hills, Carolyn Hester and daughters Amy Blume and Karla Blume, Jonathan Edwards and Side By Side (Doris Justis and Sean McGhee).[4][5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b St. Martin, Victoria (October 18, 2013). "Dick Cerri, folk-music radio host in D. C. Area". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Utica-born radio host's on-air illness stunned listeners". Observer-Dispatch. July 24, 1990.
- ^ "If I had a camera". The Washington Times. April 19, 2003.
- ^ "Remembering Dick Cerri: A Celebration in Song". University of Maryland. September 27, 2014.
- ^ Denver, Eric (September 29, 2014). "Remembering Dick Cerri: A Celebration in Song at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center". DC Metro Theater Arts.
External links[edit]
- Credits on AllMusic accessed September 19, 2014.
- [1]. Foster, Catherine (December 31, 1986). "After dormant decade, folk music blooms". The Christian Science Monitor. accessed September 19, 2014.
- [2]. "25th Annual Benefit Concert Honoring Dick Cerri". World Folk Music Association. April 2, 2011. accessed September 19, 2014.
- [3] Archived November 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. "25th Annual Benefit Concert Honoring Dick Cerri". University of Maryland. April 2, 2011. Archived from the original on November 3, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2014. accessed September 19, 2014.
- [4]. Cliff, Mary (January 30, 2007). "Thanks!!!". Traditions -- Folk Radio News Items. accessed September 19, 2014.
- [5]. "DCRTV News Archive Index - January 2013 to December 2013". DCRTV. December 31, 2013. accessed September 19, 2014.
- [6]. "LLOYD WALSH". Utica AM Radio. December 31, 2010. accessed September 19, 2014.
- [7]. "Remembering Dick Cerri: A Celebration in Song". World Folk Music Association. August 1, 2014. accessed September 19, 2014.
- [8]. "Remembering Dick Cerri: A Celebration in Song". University of Maryland. September 27, 2014. accessed October 2, 2014.
- [9].Denver, Eric (September 29, 2014). "Remembering Dick Cerri: A Celebration in Song at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center". DC Metro Theater Arts. accessed October 2, 2014.