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WQAM Miami Composite, 1976 (0:04:50)

… Q – munication, for the people of south Florida …
[Description by Uncle Ricky]You wouldn’t necessarily have known that WQAM in Miami had (very serious) FM competition from this composite. It was 1976 and the station was blasting highly produced, full-featured Top 40 radio – complete with the familiar reverb and news underscoring that ruled the airwaves a decade earlier. We’re even treated to a few (short) jingles.

Narration from American Airchexx (Volume 1, #2, April 1976) names WQAM’s program director at the time as Jim Dunlap, but no further details are provided. Included: Jim London and Charlie Fernandez, as well as newsman Roger Carey.

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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