In the fall of 1989, Rick moved over to WNUA (95.5-FM), where he hosted overnights as well as their Sunday morning show, “Sunday Soundscapes.” That program became “The Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch” in early 1992. Rick was producer and host of the Brunch through June of 2008. Over the years, the Brunch became WNUA’s signature weekend program, originating from the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Hotel Nikko, Hilton Chicago and Towers, Swissotel, the Biggs Mansion and Rupert’s On the Top.

 

Rick became WNUA’s midday host in 1990, a position he held through January 20, 2009. He was nominated for “Smooth Jazz Air Personality of the Year” in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2008 by Radio and Records, a national industry publication.

            Following Clear Channel's flip of WNUA from Smooth Jazz to Spanish Pop in early 2009, Rick segued to Chicago-based AccuRadio.com, an internet radio company, and was named Operations Manager of their Smooth Jazz brands:  ChiTownSmoothJazz.com, UltraSmoothJazz.com and SanFranSmoothJazz.com.  He developed several new channels at Accuradio, including the Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch, which featured music from the playlists of his original Brunch.

            Since January, 2010, Rick has been Program Director of 87.7 WLFM.  He can be heard on the air from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. weekdays.

 

His first professional radio opportunities were in Urbana and Champaign, where he worked on- and off-air at WDBS-AM, WPGU-FM, WLRW-FM and WKIO-FM while attending the University of Illinois. In 1981, he returned to Chicagoland and spent several months playing Broadway music and showtunes on WKDC-AM in Elmhurst. Then came three years at adult contemporary WAUR-FM and news/talk WMRO-AM in Aurora. From 1984 to 1989, he held various production and programming positions at adult contemporary WCLR-FM/WTMX-FM in Chicago.

 

Born at Augustana Hospital in Lincoln Park, Rick O'Dell is a native Chicagoan who has spent his entire life here. In 1965, his family moved to LaGrange, where he attended Lyons Township High School.  He considers his 2006 induction into the Hall of Fame at Lyons Township one of the greatest thrills and honors he has ever received.  Following his graduation in 1976, he enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Rick earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Speech Communication in 1980 and 1981, respectively.

 

Rick has been an active supporter of various charitable organizations through the years, including Chicago Youth Programs, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Les Turner/ALS Foundation. Since 2005 he has been a member of the Governing Board of the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago.

 

Today, Rick and his wife, Lori, live in the Sauganash area of Chicago. Their family includes an English bulldog, Mike.