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| Dick Summer (1935-2024) |
WBZ-AM radio legend Dick Summer, an “iconic DJ” who had an overnight radio show, has died. He was 89, according to The Boston Herald.
WBZ NewsRadio on Tuesday announced the passing of Summer, who was known for his “Nightlight” show and much more.
“We have some sad news to report from the WBZ NewsRadio newsroom,” the radio station posted. “Dick Summer, an iconic DJ who spun the hits overnights on WBZ-AM in the 1960’s and 70’s, has died.”
Summer worked at many stations before coming to the Hub, including in Indianapolis where one night he got WBZ’s signal all the way from Boston — and he heard a former colleague’s voice on the airwaves.
That inspired Summer to apply to WBZ, according to his bio page for the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
“So Dick sent an audition tape to the WBZ Program Director, Al Heacock who promptly ignored it,” Summer’s bio reads. “So Dick sent another tape, with the same result. This went on for almost a year, until finally one day Dick got the gig.
“Of course out of concern for blowing their highly prestigious reputation, WBZ hid Dick away as best they could on the all night show,” his bio continues. “But Dick didn’t care. He loved it. He was having so much fun.”
Summer is remembered for reciting poetry during his overnight show.
“His overnight show, ‘Nightlight,’ was also known for its humor, along with listeners calling in to give him the ‘password’ of ‘one hen, two ducks, and three squawking geese,’ ” WBZ NewsRadio posted.
The show also had a serious side to it, according to the Music Museum of New England. Summer had a segment calling out people who looked away when they saw a crime being committed, titled “Nightlighters Against Gutlessness.”
“Legendary radio personality,” his obituary reads, later adding, “He was a pioneer of pre FM ‘underground radio’ channels on WBZ Boston, a clear channel AM station bringing his show across the country.”
“He was more than a DJ who spun records,” reads his obituary. “He truly wanted to connect with his audience via stories, games and even a softball team that always won.”
Summer graduated as an exceptional scholar from Fordham University, majoring in psychology and communications. He grew up with a great love for music. This began with his father, the church organist, choir master, voice coach and music teacher. He played several musical instruments himself.
His passionate appreciation for the musical arts morphed into a dream of sharing music with the world on the air. This started with his admiration of listening to Willy B. Williams on his transistor radio at a very young age. The man behind the voice, Dick's career spans from radio to TV personality.
He famously hosted record hops and could be seen atop Merrills Hi Decker restaurant, where they built a glassed-in studio above the popular restaurant, where he first came up with "make it or break it," to help promote local bands and, a bit later, used by Dave Letterman on his show.
He was a pioneer of pre-FM "underground radio" channels on WBZ Boston, a clear channel AM station bringing his show across the country with his Dick Summer Subway show, introducing new musicians, like Tom Rush, Jose Feliciano and Harry Chapin, to name a few. WNEW-FM's first morning host when they switched to then FM termed "underground" music and WNBC AM with his "Mouth vs Ear" show. He was more than a DJ who spun records. He truly wanted to connect with his audience via stories, games and even a softball team that always won.
Summer has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame several times, the broadcaster Hall of Fame, and Music Museum of New England.
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