Randy Kramer, KAFY Bakersfield, 1977 (0:07:53)

… we found a way to keep our records cleaner …
Description by Uncle Ricky Randy Kramer was the morning guy at KAFY/550 in Bakersfield, when I was PD with GM Gary Burns in 1977. Burns was replaced by owner Darren McGavren (McGavren Guild) in 1978. I thought Randy was a great catch for the money I had to pay (pitiful, Bakersfield in 1977 and KAFY was no way to get rich.) I got him a small raise to be Music Director so he could frolick with the L.A. promoters that made the long drive over The Grapevine to woo us; after all, we did report to R&R. As a result, when KAFY got a Gold Record for Supertramp (Give A Little Bit), I was happy to let Randy take it when he left for a better opportunity. Randy was very creative, dependable and professional when he worked with me. Randy also had epilepsy. He took a lot of medication to keep it under control, and it was never a problem at KAFY. The last time I saw Randy was in the early ’80’s, in Sacramento, when he showed up unexpectedly at KROY (where I was Operations Manager) looking for a job. He was traveling with a battered old suitcase tied up with string, which he had stashed behind the dumpster at the station. He told me his ex-wife had the gold record. Unfortunately, I had nothing for him at KROY, and at his request, I took him and his suitcase to the bus station in Sacramento. A few years later, I was told he died when he suffered a seizure in the shower. So, for all I know, this is all anyone will ever know about Randy Kramer. Hey, this was a good aircheck, Randy. I don’t remember if I ever told you that

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