5 Questions with…Steve Dahl

By Jeff Nuich
CSN Chicago Senior Director of CommunicationsCSNChicago.com Contributor

January 27, 2010

Want to know more about your favorite Chicago media celebrities? CSNChicago.com has your fix as we put the citys most popular personalities on the spot with everyones favorite weekly local celeb feature entitled 5 Questions with...

Every Wednesday exclusively on CSNChicago.com, its our turn to grill the local media and other local VIPs with five random sports and non-sports related questions that will definitely be of interest to old and new fans alike.

This weekhes a Chicago radio legend, pioneer, innovator, trendsetter, etcthat list can go on foreverfans can catch him next hosting the 22nd annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards benefiting the March of Dimes on February 11 live on Comcast SportsNethes the one and onlyhere are 5 Questions withSTEVE DAHL!

BIO: From Radio Legend to Podcasting Pioneer, Steve Dahl, in his 31st year of broadcasting, and he has just as much to talk about as he did on day one.

Steve Dahl is one of radios most successful and enduring talents, known for holding few topics off limits and allowing his listeners an intimate look into both his professional and private lives. He now invites listeners to experience an even more intimate glimpse of his life by doing his show in his own home studio where daily life and show boundaries collide. From Janet, to their dogs, Mable and Milly to their sump pumps, nothing is off limits.

Starting out his radio career in California and Detroit, respectively, Steve set his sights out for a career in Chicago radio, beginning with two stints at WLUP-FM (97.9, "The Loop") and the now- defunct WLUP-AM. He later spent five years at WLS-AM (890) and FM. Closing an 11-year chapter in radio at WCKG-FM (105.9) in November 2007, Steve moved to mornings on sister station WJMK-FM (104.3), also known as Jack-FM. Steve is still a member of the CBS family and records a daily 1-hour podcast from his in-home studio in the western suburbs. With countless shakeups in the radio world, Steve has remained a Chicago mainstay.

Steves expertise is not just limited to radio, but extends to television and music as well. He won a Chicago television Emmy in 1982 in the category "Outstanding Achievement for a Single Program" for his work on Greetings From Graceland, chronicling his tour of Elvis' estate. Since then, he has produced groundbreaking programs such as ABCs story of the Beach Boys, Summer Dreams, and the shows It's Too Early, New Year's Steve and Garry and the CBS late-night show, The Midnight Hour. He also created and executive produced the PBS music series Soundstage in 2003.

Steve has hosted the Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards benefiting the March of Dimes, in 2008 and 2009 and will host again in February of 2010. The 2009 show was nominated for a ChicagoMidwest Emmy award.

Steves name is often synonymous with 1979s Disco Demolition. Some even call it Steves most influential contribution to the national music scene. Initially crafted as a radio promotion, Steve lead a Disco Sucks chant as an estimated 90,000 fans and listeners showed up to storm the field, joining him in setting fire to thousands of disco records. The event put Steve on the map in Chicago and the rest of the country, and earned him the reputation of being one of the most influential DJs in rock history.

His 25th anniversary in Chicago was recognized with a party in February&8232;2003 at Chicagos Museum of Broadcast Communications. For his 20th anniversary, Illinois Governor Jim Edgar proclaimed February 28, 1998 "Steve Dahl Day" throughout the entire state.

Although Steve is a staunch supporter of his self-created Reading is for Losers campaign (not really), he became the witty vice advisor for the Chicago Tribune in January 2006, penning comedic articles surmounting the main vices in his life. In June of 2009, Steve began writing a weekly column in the Chicago Tribunes Live section ranging in topics from back to school shopping in the husky department to his Japanese friend, Shu, and his love of the Bears.

After inviting rock band The Nadas to be the house band for the Steve Dahl Show on the most recent fall trip to Mexico, Steve instantly felt a musical connection with the band. Steve spent most of his summer in 2007 playing Dahlfins gigs with The Nadas across the Chicagoland area. Look for Steve to re-record some of his classics and record some new songs with The Nadas (or as Steve likes to call them, the Nothings).

Steve and his wife Janet reside in the western suburbs of Chicago. They have three grown sons: Pat, Mike and Matt.

1) CSNChicago.com: Steve, its been over a year since weve heard you on the radio and it wont be until NEXT year until we hear you on a Chicago radio outlet once again. When that time comes, if WGN Radio came to you and asked if youd be interested in re-teaming with your former partner Garry Meier once again (which would no doubt be the biggest local media story in years with guaranteed massive listenership for that station), would you consider doing it?

Dahl: I certainly wouldnt rule it out. Garry and I did a lot of really good work together back in the day, and I think that our personal relationship is definitely back on track. Also, it would be somewhat ironic considering my history with WGN Radio over the years.

2) CSNChicago.com: Since youve been off the radio airwaves, youve once again found a way to reach out and stay in touch with your audience via your wildly-popular Dahl.com Dahlcasts (congrats on recently reaching over 1,000,000 downloads of your podcast by the way), along with your continuous Facebook and Twitter updates. Does embracing new technology excite you or is it something you feel you just have no choice but to utilize to stay in touch with your fans in this day and age?

Dahl: I am technology. Back in the old days, I had a 976 number just to leave updates for my fans when we got suspended and things like that. I am extremely excited by the internet and all of the new social networking thats out there today. It makes staying in touch with my fans easier than ever, especially now that Im only Dahlcasting. I just love it! Plus, its a great outlet for my random thoughts.

3) CSNChicago.com: As arguably one of the biggest White Sox fans in the city, tell us your thoughts and predictions about the upcoming 2010 season?

Dahl: I always feel good about the upcoming season. Kenny Williams always seems to come up with a very viable product year after year. I think the starting rotation will be as strong as its been in quite some time (2005). Im very excited about this year and cant wait for Opening Day. I am also really loving the Blackhawks too. The Bears, are another story

4) CSNChicago.com: Other than your frequent visits to Maui and Florida, are there any other places around the world you hope to visit one day?

Dahl: I would love to go scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, visit Japan and maybe Hong Kong too. In the meantime, I like to hit up Chinatown. Its so close to the Cell and I loves me some egg foo young.

5) CSNChicago.com: Were thrilled youre back hosting the February 11 Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards for the third-straight year (NOTE: over the past 22 years, no one has ever hosted the Sports Awards for three years in a row). You opened the show with a song at last years event. What surprises can we expect from you this year?
Dahl: If I told you, they wouldnt be surprises (LOL). I will tell you that I am working on another song to open up the show. I am really honored that they asked me back for the third-straight year. Its been a blast each and every year so far, and the March of Dimes kids are really amazing and inspirational.

BONUS QUESTIONCSNChicago.com: Any final words of wisdom to pass along to all the CSNChicago.com readers out there Steve? Please share your thoughts with us

Dahl: We live in the greatest sports city in the world, so dont forget to stop and remember that once in a while, even when your team is sucking. We are also very blessed to have Comcast SportsNet. You guys do an excellent job of keeping the Chicago fans informed.

Dahl LINKS

Official Steve Dahl website

Dahl.coms Dahlcasts

Steve DahlChicago Tribune columns

Steve Dahl on iTunes

Steve Dahl on Facebook

Steve Dahl on Twitter

22nd annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards