In his book Shout!, Philip Norman suggests that a DJ on WWDC in Washington DC was the first to play "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in the US. Then he writes: "a second, identical commotion was reported from Chicago. A radio station was being besieged by inquiries after playing a song called "I Want to Hold Your Hands" by the British group The Beatles. Apparently, it had been sent on tape from a friend of the disc jockey's at WWDC, Washington." Does any one know which Chicago radio station this was and who was the DJ who played it?
Howdy John, welcome aboard! Could it have been WLS? I recall seeing some printed WLS surveys where one of the VeeJay singles (Please Please Me or From Me To You) charted in the lower regions of the top 40.
Possibly one of these two Chicago radio Legends: Dick Biondi or Clark Weber, interesting article about a benefit they both did for Ringo's Lotus Foundation. http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/new...ondi-clark-weber-to-host-ringo-starr-art-show
There is a pattern Dave Clark 5 The Byrds (American Beatles) Clark and Clarke Petulia Clark Monkees (pre fab 4) Last Train to Clarksville Hollies (crickets beetles) Ld vox Allan Clarke WLS - Clark Weber Hasta' be!!!
As you say, it could not have been Dick Biondi. If it was one of the other WLS deejays, I'm sure they would have boasted about it subsequently. I think it may have been a lesser known deejay on WYNR or some similar station in Chicago. But I just don't know.