Joe Yocam, KFWB Los Angeles, March 12, 1962 (0:10:32)

… It’s a Happy Show with a real good Joe called Yocam …
Joe Yocam (d. 1974) started at KFWB in 1942, and was one of the original “Seven Swingin’ Gentleman” on Chuck Blore’s brilliant Color Radio Channel 98 in pre-Boss Angeles. Yocam was on every weekday from Noon to 3, and is credited with naming the KFWB music list the Fabulous Forty. Except for several months in 1965 when he was terminated by KFWB (and re-hired after an action by AFTRA), Yocam worked at KFWB until March, 1968, when the station abandoned their music format and changed format to “All News.” Note the many production elements, the creative Public Service Announcement, the “Purely Personal” feature, and the classic jingles. Also featured, more of newsman Jackson King with Bannerline Los Angeles on the half-hour.

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