Mike Shepherd, KDIA Oakland, CA. 1967 (0:05:24)

… you’ll see what happens, accordin’ to what you dig …
Regular visitors to the Repository first heard Michael C. Gwynne (Mike Shepherd) as the polished, authoritative narrator on Ron Jacobs’ classic KGB
1972 Recycle Documentary.Gwynne’s radio career took him from Natchez Mississippi, through Mobile Alabama,
Fresno and Monterey California before KPOI in Honolulu, where he broke the world’s record for nonstop

From KDIA Lucky 13 of September 30, 1966. (Courtesy Bay Area Radio Museum.)

drumming (92 hours) in the 1965 “DrumAThon”.

After that feat, Gwynne joined KDIA in Oakland/San Francisco, where he says he was the only “night light” on the air.

Stints at WWRL in New York, with Murray The K at CHUM and KGFJ in

Los Angeles (as “Lee Vaunce”) followed. Gwynne left radio full-time in 1970
because acting offered a better deal.

Just prior to the date of this aircheck (July 19, 1967), Gwynne and KDIA “Lucky 13” were competing with Sly Stone on KSOL.

Picture of Mike Shepherd

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!

Carl Davis
Trustee
North Carolina Broadcast History Museum