ReelRadio-Default-01

Rosko, KDIA Oakland, CA. 1964 (0:03:56)

The Pat Maestro Collection
… I ain’t lyin’, your man Rosko just doesn’t dig flyin’ …
[Description by Uncle Ricky from notes by Pat Maestro]  For a time in the early 1960s, Rosko (Bill) Mercer was heard live on KGFJ in Los Angeles, and via tape on KDIA, (1310 Khz) in Oakland, six nights a week; he spent the seventh in Oakland, live on KDIA. The weekly trip to Oakland from L.A. was undoubtedly his inspiration for the original performance you will hear on this short aircheck. One of the all-time greatest R&B jocks, and the first black news announcer on WINS in New York, his style was real poetry, as heard on this recording when he was king of the R&B Bay Area air waves. Rosko passed away on August 1, 2000. (MORE ROSKO at REELRADIO)

Start typing and press enter to search

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