Joe McCoy Salutes Alan Freed, WCBS-FM New York June 8, 1991 (0:42:11)

… he certainly got my name on the radio, even if he couldn’t get the song on, and that was what it was all about …
[Description by Uncle Ricky with notes from contributor Pete Rossi] Joe McCoy is the very successful programming genius who nurtured the oldies format of 101 WCBS-FM from 1981 until 2004. Mr. McCoy was obviously someone who loved programming America’s premiere “Oldies” station, defining excellence in presentation, production and performance for the nation’s Number 1 radio market. He grew up with early rock ‘n’ roll, and Alan Freed said his name on the radio. From The 1991 WCBS-FM Rock And Roll Greats Weekend, Joe McCoy presents A Salute To Alan Freed. Included are comments from legendary R&B saxophonist Freddie Mitchell and Freed’s daughter Alana Freed, Freed’s last show in New York on WABC, plus a rare recording featuring Freed, Steve Allen and Al Jazzbeau Collins.

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. 

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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