Big Hugh Baby Jarrett, WPLO Atlanta, December 1963 (0:19:10)

… puttin’ some words on ya, and talkin’ that trash …
[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by John Quincy] Contributor John Quincy says this aircheck is from the personal collection of the late Lexington, KY. broadcaster Herb Oscar Kent (WLAP, WVLK). It was recorded from the FM simulcast of WPLO-AM. Hugh Jarrettcourtesy bandhistory.com Big Hugh Baby Jarrett was the baritone in The Jordanaires, Elvis Presley’s band. After leaving the band, he became one of the Southeast’s greatest original Rock ‘n’ Roll radio personalities. Jarrett was popular in the early and mid-60’s on Atlanta’s WPLO, and later on WQXI and WLAC, Nashville. He was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall Of Fame in 2007. In this rare FM simulcast recording, you’ll hear Jarrett literally yelling into the microphone, and then jump between his music show and the news. His original presentation of the latest R&B and rock ‘n’ roll music was irrestible for a generation of Georgia teens and young adults. This was the coolest radio in Atlanta. Big Hugh Baby was The Man. Hugh Jarrett passed away on May 31, 2008. He had been hospitalized for two months after being critically injured in an auto accident.

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