countdown show American Top 40 (died 2014). 13 May – Gianni Boncompagni, Italian broadcast presenter (died 2017). 16 August – Pervis Spann, American disc jockey (died 2022). 13 September – Dick Biondi, American National Radio Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Top 40 and Oldies disc jockey. 9 December – Morton Downey, Jr., controversial and influential American broadcast talk show host of the 1980s, pioneer of the "trash talk show" format (died 2001). References Radio by year