Robert W. Morgan, KHJ HORR, February 22, 1969 12N-1PM (1:00:03)

… . . . it was hard to explain how a voice could be awful and good at the same time . . . …

[Description by Uncle Ricky from notes by contributor Don Kent]

This is Hour 25 of the First and Original History Of Rock And Roll, as broadcast by KHJ between Noon and 1PM on Saturday, February 22, 1969. Our host is Robert W. Morgan.

Beginning before Billboard magazine’s Hot 100, the first hour of the “Rock” segment reaches back for classic R&B from 1952 into early 1955. Otherwise forgotten “radio archivist” Charles Hefty introduces Allan Freed. Also featured is the late Bert Convy, part of a group performing a song by legendary songwriting team Leiber & Stoller, and a montage presented as a tribute to the ubiquitous bass singers of the ’50’s.

This was the first “Rockumentary”, produced by KHJ Program Director Ron Jacobs. Following the unprecedented success of this legendary broadcast, Jacobs left KHJ later that year. RKO made the show available to the other stations in their group, narrated by station-specific talent. When RKO was done with it, Drake-Chenault offered a re-recorded version in syndication three times between 1970 and 1982. An edited version (no jingle) of the last release, narrated by Bill Drake, was still in syndication as of 2006.

Picture of Picture of Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

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