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The Golden Year 1961 (scoped) (0:11:22)

Scoped

Can you spell — let alone pronounce — the name of the 1st man to orbit the earth? “Oscar” is the only thing that unites the Jets and the Sharks; and whose that FCC guy calling TV nothing but gar-bage?

Bill Drake is our image voice and the one and only Robert W. Morgan narrates The Golden Year: 1961. (It has the KHJ G.Y. jingle (instrumentally) but the calls letters never show up.)

Ricky Nelson “exposes” the secret to having a hit record “travel” up the charts; Bobby Vee explains how one of rock’s greatest tragedies affected his career; from carpet sales to music sales, chord changes and a combination of classical and country giants propel Del Shannon to success; Bobby Lewis is a living example of “ask and you shall receive”; and Gary U.S. Bonds has his manager to thank for his biggest hit!

The KHJ version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1961

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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