Benztown, has announced the release of two new episodes of Chachi Loves Everybody, an original podcast produced by Benztown and hosted by Benztown President and audio brand builder Dave “Chachi” Denes. The episodes feature Chachi’s special guests, Rick Dees, the iconic internationally syndicated radio host of The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, and Gary Sandy, acclaimed television and Broadway actor known for his indelible role as program director Andy Travis on the classic comedy series WKRP in Cincinnati.
Both Dees and Sandy will be honored as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony on November 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.
To listen to the new Chachi Loves Everybody podcast episodes, visit: https://bit.ly/ChachiLovesEverybody.
🎧On the first new episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Rick Dees, a People's Choice Award recipient, a Grammy-nominated performing artist, and Radio Hall of Fame inductee, chats with Chachi and his listeners about topics including:
- His early misadventures in radio as a high school and college student in North Carolina
- The story behind creating the 1976 satirical novelty song “Disco Duck,” how it became a hit, and how it got him fired
- Getting tapped by Dick Clark to go on-air in Los Angeles, and becoming a household name in L.A. and beyond
- The entertainers and unlikely sources that inspired him as a performer and storyteller
- Learning to invest after people tried to steal from him, and his financial advice
- Why he bought a farm in Kentucky
- Creating the Weekly Top 40 and how it became the longest continuously running countdown show ever.
- Starring in a late-night show opposite Johnny Carson
- His other ventures including his farm, his own app, cookbook, and launching Home Living, which became the Cooking Channel
🎧In the second new episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, acclaimed actor Gary Sandy takes listeners through topics including:
- Growing up in Dayton, OH, and aspiring to be an actor
- Moving to New York and working odd jobs before becoming getting his break playing soap opera bad boys
- What it was like broadcasting live for 50 million people in the groundbreaking daytime drama, As The World Turns
- How he landed the role of Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati
- What went on behind the scenes of WKRP and his favorite moments from the show
- The demanding but fulfilling life acting on Broadway and national tours
- Performing a one-man show at the Grand Ole Opry
- Advice for breaking into the TV business