The Chuck Matthews Collection

Mild-Mannered Chuck Matthews

Chuck Wild Man Matthews

Chuck Matthews of Cleveland is a native of Lakewood, Ohio and a 1986 graduate of Lakewood High School. He has worked both on-air and in production at stations all over Ohio, including WHBC AM/FM (Canton), WLLD (Columbus), WZOO (Ashtabula), WNPQ (Canton) and WKFM (Huron).

Chuck attended and played football at Mount Union College. He also played semi-pro football for the Cleveland Lions, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.

Chuck joined WMJI (MAJIC 105.7) in Cleveland as a part-time production assistant in August, 1994. In June of 1997 he became Assistant Production Director, and he added a weekend air shift six months later.

As of December 2002, Chuck is the Imaging Director for two Clear Channel stations in Raleigh, N.C. — WRDU 106.1 and WTRG Oldies 100.7, where he is also Assistant Program Director.

Chuck enjoys the outdoors, volleyball, softball and working out. He's a proud member of the MacGregor Clan and swears he is related to William "Braveheart" Wallace and Rob Roy.

The Repository thanks Chuck Matthews for sharing!

… you gotta follow the computer’s music – yeah, unless the computer’s wrong …
[Description by Chuck Matthews] Here’s an aircheck (from a VHS archive, with some tracking noise) of Jack Armstrong at a remote for Ghoulardi Fest on October 11, 1997. The event celebrated Ernie Anderson, who was known as Ghoulardi on Cleveland television in the the ’50’s and ’60’s. Along with Jack is PM driver Scott Howitt, who worked at WMJI from 1990-2001. In Scott’s 11 years at “Magic”, his ratings never dipped below #3, 25-54. Pretty amazing! Scott greatly admired Akron native Pete “Mad Daddy” Myers. You’ll also hear some WIXY “Flashback” composites on this WIXY Reunion Weekend. The WMJI “imaging voice” is J.R. Nelson (Z-100, MTV, etc.) J.R. was the in-house Production Director at WMJI from the mid/late ’80’s until 1994. He was retained as the station voice until he fell ill in late 1997. Best thing for me about this particular aircheck is that I was the board-op for the entire spectacle! What a thrill — running the board for two of my inspirations: Jack “Yo’ Leed-dah” Armstrong and Scott “Buddy-O” Howitt. Jack Armstrong passed away on March 22, 2008.
… . . . A Nationwide Communications Station . . . …

[Description by Chuck Matthews]

Here’s a ‘check from the WMJI/WIXY Reunion Weekend from October 1997, featuring former “WIXY Superman” Lou ‘King’ Kirby with former WMJI staffer Luther Heggs. Kirby has been out of radio for over two decades. He lives in Cancun, Mexico and owns a construction company.

This ‘check was archived onto a videotape, like all airchecks were at WMJI at the time. I tried to remove as much “flutter” as possible with the VCR tracking. Hopefully it doesn’t sound too bad sonically.

Luther Heggs is running the board and “The King” is reminiscing. You’ll hear old WIXY airchecks and jingles. You’ll hear former WIXY staffer Billy Bass on a PSA, who at this time was working at WMJI doing 7p-12M. Jim LaBarbara, then at WGRR/Cincinnati, calls in as well as Larry ‘The Duker’ Merrow. Merrow, at this time, was doing mornings at Hot AC WQAL.

Wanna give props to the folks behind the scenes for the Reunion Weekend. All the WIXY vignettes, along with the current WMJI imaging, were produced by Michael ‘Doc’ Thompson and myself. The web promo is Mitch Todd (with Sirius as of January, 2003.) Doc is heard on a weekend sponsorship. The WMJI/WIXY Reunion Top of Hour ID is none other than J.R. Nelson. J.R. retired from radio in 2000.

Enjoy this check!

… Northern Ohio’s Music Leader …
[Description by Uncle Ricky] Chuck Matthews contributed this fast-moving composite of WIXY/Cleveland airchecks, jingles and production excerpts from the archives of WMJI-FM. Featured: Larry Morrow, Lou “King” Kirby, “Wilde Childe” Dick Kemp, Chuck Knapp, and Jim LaBarbara.
… . . . Attention Z-100 – now it’s your turn in the tank . . . …

[Description by Chuck Matthews]

This aircheck features Skye Walker (Blair Garner of After Midnight) on WPLJ New York, on New Years Eve, 1990, and New Years Day, 1991 – before and after Scott Shannon flipped the format to Mojo Radio.

The imaging is killer and so is Walker. You will also hear Shannon doing the “Big Money Birthday Contest” promos. Notice Walker’s delivery and style change, and how important the station’s imaging was.

The best imagers include the “Arbitron Rated Number 20” and “Two point Oh and nowhere to go – but up!”. ‘PLJ making fun of itself – legendary WORST to FIRST in ONE BOOK!

… Cold in the outlying areas, but what the hell are you doin’ out lyin’ in those areas anyway …
[Description by Chuck Matthews] Over the years, WMJI MAJIC 105.7 has hosted a reunion weekend with former WIXY Supermen. The Reunion Weekend in October of 1997 included my favorite, Jack Armstrong, and I was blown away! Also heard: a short segment of Jim LaBarbara on WIXY (1966). Jack Armstrong passed away March 22, 2008 at his home in North Carolina.
… . . . It’s a … dance floor fillin’, oil drillin’, boss killin’, we need penicillin weekend . . . …

[Description by Chuck Matthews]

Elvis Duran plays The Five O’ Clock Song and kicks off the first weekend of The Year of the Ram on this exuberant and enthusiastic Friday drive time snapshot of Z100, New York. High energy and lots of fun!

Also featured: The Big Pipes of former Clevelander and Ghoulardi creator Ernie Anderson, “from the top of the Empire State Building.” The unforgettable “Serving the Universe” jingle is well known to Z100 listeners as well as Malrite Communications’ other giant, WMMS in Cleveland, which dominated the rock scene for at least a decade.

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