Lee Simms, WMYQ Miami, 1974 (0:23:55)

… It ain’t easy bein’ heavy …

Lee “Baby” Simms has worked at stations all over the country, including WPOP in Hartford, KRLA, KMET and KROQ in Los Angeles, KCBQ in San Diego, KYA in San Francisco, and KOOL in Phoenix.

This WMYQ aircheck, made in November 1974, (between KMET and KRLA), highlights Simms’ personable style and includes his editorial comments regarding Harry Chapin, The Undisputed Truth, The O’Jays and George Harrison. You’ll also hear Lee “Baby” walk up the entire intro to Stairway to Heaven.

Simms was born in Charleston, S.C. and quit high school at 16. According to Don Barrett’s L.A. Radio People, Simms says, “Good jocks are those that do good, unexpected things.” This wonderfully entertaining aircheck is representative of that philosophy.

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