Mad Daddy Pete Myers, WHK Cleveland, June 25, 1959 (0:43:15)

… They got the pop and the bop and the rhythm and the blue …
After WJW, Pete “Mad Daddy” Myers moved across the street to WHK where his show evolved to include the recorded elements heard in his later work at WINS/New York.”Bubbles” sound effects and the frequent use of tape echo were common, as were unusual music beds. In this aircheck, you’ll hear the WHK time tone and CRC Series 8 jingles, in addition to a fair amount of distortion. (Apparently, Mad Daddy really was SHOUTING into the microphone!)

His playlist expanded too, no doubt at the direction of WHK, to include some pop-based hits of the time, and distinctly non-Blues & Rhythm artists like Jimmy Clanton.

In addition to the one-of-a-kind performance of Pete Myers, a short WHK news report is featured, along with a truly classic commercial for “Light, Refreshing Pepsi-Cola, the sociable refreshment.”

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