Mike Reineri, WKIX Raleigh NC August 1964 (0:32:24)

… he just went to get a short cup of coffee …
[Description by Uncle Ricky] After The Peter Kanze Collection presented the rare aircheck of Gary Edens on WKIX, we received several serious requests for an aircheck of the late Mike Reineri in afternoon drive, also recorded in August of 1964. Gary wrote a bit about Mike’s radio career. “He was really the first personality to host the WKIX morning show. He left WKIX for co-owned WPDQ, Jacksonsville, then went to Cleveland’s WIXY, and finally to Miami, where he spent the rest of his career as a talk show host on WIOD and other stations.” Gary also wrote that Mike was a participant in the September, 2001, WPTF broadcast of the WKIX reunion. “That is the last time most of the ‘KIX Alums talked with Mike. He passed away in January of 2003.” Despite Reineri’s flawless performance here, this recording was technically challenged, which is why it wasn’t an earlier choice for exhibition. It *is* an “off-the-board” recording, but it was recorded pre-processing, and the high-frequency distortion is unfortunate. Be assured a few hours were devoted to making it an effective online presentation, but the distortion remains on some program elements. Fortunately, all of Reineri’s work was spared the splatter. At least two great Beer spots are featured, several PAMS jingles, and Jerry Kearns delivers news of the infamous Gulf of Tonkin incident.

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