Pete Fornatale with Rosko WFUV NY 1967 (0:14:40)

… How do you come in on a successful program and say ‘we can make it successful’? …
When RKO gave a consulting contract to Drake-Chenault in 1967, it included one of the first progressive-rock (or underground) stations in the country, WOR-FM. Rosko (Bill Mercer) resigned in an on-the-air protest. An aircheck of his resignation exists elsewhere on this site. Rosko died of cancer on August 1, 2000. Several days after his resignation from WOR-FM, Rosko was interviewed by Pete Fornatale at his college radio station WFUV-FM (Fordham University). Pete later became a fixture at WNEW-FM. As of 2001, he had a Saturday evening show on public radio station WFUV, where he was followed by Vin Scelsa. Pete Fornatale passed away at the age of 66 on April 26, 2012.

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