Dees Family Genealogy & History

Rick Dees, born Rigdon Osmond Dees III, is a renowned American entertainer celebrated for his contributions as a radio personality, comedian, and actor. Best known for his syndicated radio show, The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, and the hit novelty song "Disco Duck," Dees has left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry. He has been honored with a People's Choice Award and inducted into the Broadcast Hall of Fame. His career includes co-founding the Fine Living network and hosting popular radio shows like Rick Dees in the Morning at KIIS-FM Los Angeles, cementing his legacy in radio and entertainment.

Morris Seligman Dees Jr., born on December 16, 1936, is an influential American attorney known for co-founding the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in 1971 with Joseph J. Levin Jr. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, Dees is renowned for his pioneering legal strategies against hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, notably through damage litigation. He also served as a financial director in several presidential campaigns, including those of George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, and Edward Kennedy. Dees was dismissed from the SPLC in 2019 amid allegations of workplace misconduct.

Morris Dees was born in Shorter, Alabama to tenant cotton farmers Annie Ruth (Frazer) and Morris Seligman Dees Sr. His family was Baptist, and his grandfather named his father after a Jewish friend, highlighting a diverse cultural heritage.

Sam Dees, born December 17, 1945, in Birmingham, Alabama, is a renowned American soul singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his influential work in the music industry, Dees has released several albums since the 1970s and penned hit songs for artists like Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Gladys Knight. His 1975 album, "The Show Must Go On," is particularly notable, showcasing his enduring impact on the soul genre. Despite his recording career stalling, Dees continued to create timeless music, earning a place in the pantheon of great American songwriters.

Sam Dees was born into a large family in Birmingham, Alabama, where he began his musical journey by forming the vocal group, the Bossanovians, at just nine years old.

Mary Ella Dees, born on June 3, 1911, in Syracuse, New York, was a renowned American stage and screen actress, best known for her work as a stand-in double for Jean Harlow. Dees's career highlights include being named Miss America in Hollywood in 1932, which launched her film career with a role in "Red Headed Woman." She appeared in notable films like "The Last Gangster" (1937) and "The Women" (1939), and participated in several Marx Brothers and Three Stooges comedies. Her final screen performance was in "A Night in Casablanca" (1946). Dees continued her acting career in repertory theatre until 1985, leaving a lasting legacy in Hollywood's golden era.