The Real Don Steele, K-100, Los Angeles, 1973 (0:02:03)

… If there’s an energy crisis, we’re gonna do some on-shore drilling …
The legend was born in the Sixties at Boss Radio KHJ in Los Angeles and lives on today. The Friday afternoon sign-offs by The Real Don Steele – an incredible couple of minutes of rhymes and rock ‘n’ roll – defy explanation by mere mortal beings. You have to hear the mystical magic of Steele to “know and believe,” yet you may still not figure it all out.This rare recording was the very first of the The Real Don Steele sign-offs in 1973 on K-100 (KIQQ-FM) in Los Angeles. You will hear him (at 01:30) say “…six months is not too long to wait…” This refers to the approximately half a year absence from LA radio that Steele weathered following RKO Radio management’s decision to terminate the Drake-Chenault programming at KHJ.

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