Some legends are born. And some are born legends. Joey Reynolds is both. While still in his teens, he began a radio career that everyone knew would take him far. And it did–all across the Eastern Seaboard on his 50K hometown monster, WKBW-AM 1520 in Buffalo, N.Y. Some of his bits from those days are legendary–including calling Long Distance information, asking for “Memphis”, and then proceeding to lead a confused operator through the words to the entire Johnny Rivers song. (OPERATOR: Sir, if you could just tell me where she lives… REYNOLDS: Her home is on the south side, high above a ridge, just a half a mile from the Mississippi Bridge.)

It was this kind of inspired lunacy that made all Buffalo listen when Reynolds was invited home to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of WGRQ-FM in Christmas of 1973. And he didn’t disappoint–proceeding to tear the format to shreds and ad lib like crazy on the air for 3 hours. This is the last 30 minutes of the show, and if anything, it shows he was just getting revved up!

A couple of quick notes about references in this aircheck–“Q-Tips” were the station’s name for P.S.A.’s. Clint Buehlman refers to a long time morning man who owned the market for years on WBEN-AM in Buffalo. Liz Dribben, George Hamberger, Stan Roberts and Danny Nevereth (who’s still around on WHTT) were all local market radio personalties. WUFO is a low powered AM soul station in the city. And “Meet The Millers” was a classic locally-produced cooking show that ran seemingly forever in the Buffalo TV market in the late 50’s and 60’s.

Finally, a word about his theme song–yep, that IS Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons singing it. And they must have busy in the 60s, because they also did Cousin Brucie’s elsewhere on this website. WGRQ is now WGRF, a heavy-70’s classic rock station. But for this one magic night in 1973, it was a time to turn back the clock, and let a local legend be re-born.