The Real Don Steele, KHJ Los Angeles, June 14, 1968 (0:51:18)

… Terence is now stamped! …
This creatively ‘scoped recording of The Real Don Steele includes nearly all of Steele’s Fractious Friday show for KHJ from June 14, 1968. (There are some short gaps, and we don’t know why most of Stoned Soul Picnic survived, and the rest didn’t.) Once again, we are privileged to have this very high-fidelity recording, presumably off the KHJ air chain. (Note the infrequent cue burn!) This exhibit plays really well and is a true joy from beginning to end.

Jim Lawrence is heard opening and closing the news. Tiny Tim is featured three times with custom tracks, and very hip for 1968 — listen to the jingle layover at 44:08! And listen to the outstanding voices featured on spots for Mojave, Turtle Wax, Number Uno, Hamms, Anacin, Revlon and Schlitz! (If all these guys were talking at the same time, there would surely be an earthquake.) You won’t forget The Mothers of Invention at the Anaheim Convention! Robert W. Morgan voices a promo with Graduation Congratulations (followed by Graduation Day) and Steele quips his way through Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson (“I can’t go into it, it’s an item”) and the “dirty guitar player” on Yester Love. The aircheck concludes with Real Don’s traditional Fractious Friday Rap. What a great taste of a 1968 Southern California summer! Our thanks again to Shaune Steele.

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