Steve Bleecker, WJBQ-FM Portland, ME. July 1983 (0:08:38)

… Bleecker in the speaker …
Here I am in morning drive . Harry Nelson had only been at WJBQ as Program Director for 5 months or so, after having left “the Big Time” at KFRC, San Francisco. I got his call while I was in Albany, N.Y. doing afternoons at 92-WFLY. Although it took me awhile to “get it together” and leave the place I really loved, I finally arrived in Portland in late June ’83. I had originally met Harry in ’72, through a mutual friend (John Sherman, WRKO Board Op.) when Harry was doing afternoons in Boston. So, I thought “everything was peachy” — working for and with a friend, of many years! Unfortunately for me, Harry split for Fargo, N.D. just 6 weeks into my JBQ “Honeymoon” ! Brian Pheonix (P.D. before Harry) was called back to re-assume programming duties and “the Honeymoon” was over! This aircheck is from the “NO P.D. DAYS” between Phoenix and Nelson — late July ’83 — I was gone by mid-January of 1984. I was out of the business until 1992, when I joined WGY-FM (Oldies 99.5) in Schenectady, N.Y. More to Come from The Steve Bleecker Collection, established May 20, 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