WKIX Raleigh, N.C. Composite, 1972 (0:08:41)

… Rig is also a graduating senior at North Carolina over in Chapel Hill …
As I recall, this tape was part of a series that was distributed to PDs around the country during the early 1970s. The idea was that a station’s PD (in this case, Pat Patterson) would put together a station composite and narrate it. On this tape, you hear short airchecks of the WKIX weekday air staff as of early 1972: Pat Patterson (PD and morning drive); Dale Van Horn and Jack Kane (midday); Steve Roddy (afternoon drive); Mike Mitchell and Rick Dees (nights); and Smitty Marshall (all night). Interesting trivia: After this tape was distributed, Steve Roddy (Kenneth Lowe) got a call from KCBQ with a job offer. But he turned it down to stay in college and get his degree. He’s now the CEO of Scripps-Howard (I guess that degree helped). [From Uncle Ricky: This composite appeared on the first issue of Programmer’s Digest, July 10, 1972.]

Welcome to the new ReelRadio!

This site is now operated by the North Carolina Broadcast History Museum. 

We want to thank the board of ReelRadio, Inc. for their stewardship since the passing of the founder Richard Irwin in 2018.  It has not been easy and they have maintained the exhibits for future generations to enjoy.

I met Richard Irwin, aka Uncle Ricky, when we were freshmen at East Carolina University.  We both had worked at local stations in our hometowns.  No one was more passionate about radio, especially Top 40 radio, than my friend Richard. 

Our goals with this site are to preserve the exhibits and make them available free of charge for people to enjoy.  Over time, we hope to add some airchecks to the site.  This will not happen immediately.  Time and resources will determine the future of new exhibits. 

Many thanks to the web folks at the Beasley Media Group for countless hours of work.  Again thanks to the board members of ReelRadio, Inc. for their faith in us. 

Richard Irwin’s hope was that his site would live on long after his passing. He said, “I hope REELRADIO will survive as my contribution to the ‘radio business’. The business is allowed to forget me, but the business should never forget the great era of radio that we celebrate here”.

We remember Richard and we thank him. If you enjoy this new site, we would appreciate a contribution. We hope you enjoy the new ReelRadio!

Carl Davis
Trustee
North Carolina Broadcast History Museum