Jimmy Rabbitt, KROQ Los Angeles, December 24, 1977 (1:13:07)

… Do I sound drunk enough? I try real hard to sound drunk …
[DESCRIPTION BY UNCLE RICKY] Was he “into it”, or just “out of it”? This Christmas Eve 1977 recording features legendary radio rebel Jimmy Rabbitt on KROQ AM & FM. The music is unpredictable and delightful, Rabbitt has won the Black Velvet award, and there’s even a spot for drug paraphernalia — use Johnny Snowflake and your nose will know. You can call this format “free form rock”, if you wish, but Rabbitt plays some great old rhythm & blues, cajun country (don’t that make you wanna kick off your shoes and get close to a squirrel?) and even a few pop surprises. When the “format” requires a “cross-plug”, he quips, “Go to church.” About this time, Rabbitt also enjoyed some success with his band Renegade and released two singles on Capitol records. Contributor Rob Frankel says that Shadoe Stevens was the KROQ PD at the time, and that the KROQ-FM signal wasn’t strong enough at his Hollywood apartment to record in stereo, so he recorded this one in mono. We’ve processed it in simulated stereo to add some depth, but truly, you can’t get much deeper, more simulated or stimulated than the Rabbitt. [CONTRIBUTED BY ROB FRANKEL] COMMENTS FOR Jimmy Rabbitt, KROQ Los Angeles, December 24, 1977

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!

Board of NCBHP
North Carolina Broadcast History Project