B. Mitchel Reed

Mitch was born Burton Mitchel Goldberg in Brooklyn on June 10, 1926. Reed earned a B.S. degree in journalism and an M.A. in political science at the University of Illinois.

After serving as a navigator on a B-17 bomber in Europe during the last year of World War II, and while teaching political science at his alma mater, he entered the world of radio "for the boogie and the glamour of broadcasting."

Reed hosted the all-night "Birdland Jazz Show" at WOV-AM in New York in 1956. For this razzmatazz, fast jive-talking persona he became famous. But he also was a figure in the burgeoning free-format world of FM radio.

A year later, he landed a job at KFWB in Los Angeles, playing jazz and calling himself "The Boy on the Couch."

On January 2, 1958, KFWB became a pioneering Top 40 station known as "Color Radio/Channel 98," and the DJ's were known as "The Seven Swinging Gentlemen."

The lineup included Bruce Hayes, Al Jarvis, Joe Yocam, Elliot Field, Bill Ballance, Ted Quillin, and Gene Weed. Reed hosted the 6PM-9PM high energy show using horns, bells and buzzers. Under Program Director Chuck Blore, KFWB became the #1 radio station in Los Angeles.

Here's Reed at WMCA as heard on Cruisin' 1963. [ LISTEN ] (38:34)

Featuring the following: Opening Theme (Hand Clappin'), Easier Said Than Done sung by The Essex, Sally Go 'Round The Roses by the Jaynettes, WMCA "Good Guys" jingle, He's So Fine - Chiffons, 1963 Dodge commercial, Twist And Shout - Isley Brothers, Green Acres Promo, Baby It's You - Shirelles, "Name It And Claim It" Winner, It's My Party - Lesley Gore, WMCA Station I.D. then Walk Right In - Rooftop Singers, Litter Basket Public Service Song, B.M.R. Correspondent's Report, Denise - Randy & The Rainbows, WMCA "That's The Way To Spend Your Day" Song, Mama Didn't Lie - Jan Bradley, 1963 Rambler commercial, Hey Paula - Paul & Paula, 'Musical Love Letters' Contest Winners and Louie, Louie - The Kingsmen.

REED'S FINAL WMCA SHOW

Saturday, March 20, 1965
[ LISTEN ] (34:45)

There's a short newscast in this aircheck and the impending march in Selma, Alabama is mentioned. It was also only 26 degrees that night in NYC, pretty cold for March 20th. It's hard to tell whether he was kidding but Reed mentions several times that his pay was only $43.50 a week.

Then, on February 7, 1963 Reed was wooed back to his hometown as one of "The Good Guys" at WMCA New York...one year to the day before the Beatles invaded the U.S. He is also given credit for pursuing the Beatles in England before they came to America. This led to a lot of promos by the Beatles in support of WMCA.

Again rated #1, "Your Leader" spent time in London developing contacts with Brian Epstein, Derek Taylor and The Beatles which led to exclusive interviews and advance record pressings that helped usher in "Beatlemania" in early 1964. After his final WMCA show on March 20, 1965 he was cheered by thousands at the airport, a scene that was repeated when he landed in L.A. for his return to KFWB with "The Wide Wide Weird World of BMR" where he became a voice for the counterculture.

BMR c.1967

It's the wonderful musical year of 1967, and Mitch is working the turntable at KFWB on October 2nd. [ LISTEN ] (41:05)

Just four days later, the date is October 6, 1967, and BMR is on-the-air again at KFWB. [ LISTEN ] (12:40)

With no such similar music station in L.A., Reed left KFWB and, with Donahue, founded the new "underground" format at KPPC-FM in Pasadena. Both KMPX and KPPC achieved more success than anticipated with the new AOR programming.

KMET: September 20, 1970

But both stations ran into a conflict with their respective owners, thus resulting in a strike. After the strike ended in June 1968, Donahue persuaded station owner Metromedia to take on the AOR format at KMET (FM)-Los Angeles.

Reed programmed what would become one of the first 24-hour automated music stations. It would go live in the summer of 1969. He left KMET for one year in 1971 to work at KRLA.

He returned to KMET in 1972 where he stayed the next six years. KMET (the "Mighty Met") had a nearly 20-year run as one of L.A.'s top album rock outlets before switching to KTWV ("The Wave") in the late 1980s.

Reed was inducted into the Rock Radio Hall of Fame in the "Legends of Rock Radio-Programming" category in 2014, for his work at KPPC and KMET.

In 1978, Reed underwent coronary bypass surgery. He would leave KMET for KLOS (FM) in 1979. His lingering heart condition caught up with him on March 16, 1983. He passed away in his West Los Angeles home at the age of 56.

He was an Air Force veteran who held a B.S. degree in Journalism and an M.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois. B. Mitchel Reed will forever be regarded as one of the founders of the FM Rock and Roll format and movement that began in the late 1960s.

WHERE DID BMR WORK? Here is the list: WOR, KFWB, WMCA, KFWB, KPPC, KMET, KRLA, KMET, and KLOS.

Some materials used on this page were originally published on the following: Music Radio 77, Past Daily, Rock Radio Scrapbook, Reel Radio.