The Pete Fuentes Collection

Pete Fuentes
UPN 9, WWOR-TV
Pete Fuentes, 1999
FOX 6 NEWS
 

In 1999, after 12 years as News and Feature Reporter for WWOR-TV (UPN 9, Secaucus, New Jersey), Pete Fuentes returned to California as Special Projects Producer and Reporter for XETV Fox 6 in San Diego.

In 2017, Pete is working for himself at
Coastal San Diego Rentals.

Pete joined WWOR-TV in September of 1987. Prior to WWOR-TV, Pete was a reporter for KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California. He began his broadcast career in 1972 while serving in the U.S. Army as broadcast specialist with American Forces Radio and Television. In 1974, at AFRN in Alaska, he was named Billboard Magazine Air Personality of the Year. Fuentes has received numerous awards and achievements, including two 1993 Emmy Awards.

Born in Pecos, Texas in 1952, Pete says "Southern California radio in the late 60's and 70's was the golden age of Top 40." He spent his teenage summers visiting his older brother in Los Angeles, and grew up listening to Boss Radio. "I will never forget the sound of KHJ," says Fuentes. "Boss was the only way to describe it. I decided radio was what I wanted to do for life."

Another unforgettable experience for Pete was listening to Wolfman Jack on superpower XERB in Tijuana, Mexico: "There was nothing like listening to Wolfman on a warm desert night over the Southwest."

The Repository is very grateful to Mr. Fuentes for sharing airchecks with us all. Thank You, Pete!

Scoped
… You can’t beat love and marriage – as long as it’s with the same person …

Charlie Tuna (heard here from 12N to 1PM) is my fave DJ. Charlie is in true form on this tape. Check out the patented tight intros and one-liners. Tuna is a delight.

I found this aircheck while visiting WCBS in New York City when I was doing a story on their DJ Reunion. Joe McCoy said, “I think I have one of the old Drake DJ tapes…” These were distributed to all Drake stations to demo the format. What a find!

Unscoped
… You can’t beat love and marriage – as long as it’s with the same person …

Charlie Tuna (heard here from 12N to 1PM) is my fave DJ. Charlie is in true form on this tape. Check out the patented tight intros and one-liners. Tuna is a delight.

I found this aircheck while visiting WCBS in New York City when I was doing a story on their DJ Reunion. Joe McCoy said, “I think I have one of the old Drake DJ tapes…” These were distributed to all Drake stations to demo the format. What a find!

… …Uh, Operator, do you know who I am?… …

As you know, Wolfman Jack recorded his show in Los Angeles. The tapes were taken across the border and aired on XERB.

Wolfman was at his best when he played the blues. We’ll have to excuse the Edison Lighthouse record . . .

… … stop grinnin’ and drop your linen… …

Here’s a ‘check of some of my own Top 40 days at American Forces Radio in Alaska. (I’m really dating myself when I start talking about streaking.)

This is a composite of an afternoon show called On The Move. It helped me win Billboard DJ of the Year in 1974.

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