Big Ken Cocker WNDE Indianapolis 1978 (0:05:10)

… I’m thinking about all the houses of ill repute …
[Description by Rob Sidney] This is Big Ken Cocker’s second-to-last night on the air before moving to afternoons at WMET Chicago — at the ripe old age of 21. There’s no doubt that Ken, having grown up in the Chicago suburbs, idolized Larry Lujack and the heritage of WLS; in fact, WNDE sounds very much like ‘WLS Jr.’, with the tight playlist, reverb, shotgun jingles and contest ‘touch-tones’. At one point, young Ken even refers to himself as ‘the sta-a-arrr of the nighttime’, effecting a rather Lujack-esque growl. Following his stint at WMET, Ken landed at WLUP and some surburban Chicago outlets before spending most of the 80’s at country WUSN(‘US99’), and the 90’s at WPNT (‘FM 100’). As of February 2003, he was handling swing at Chicago oldies stalwart WJMK (‘Magic 104.3’) and dabbles as a golf pro.

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