Real Oldies Music Radio: Broadcasting the Heartbeat of America’s Musical Past

USA RADIO MUSEUM – In a world of overproduced playlists and AI-curated content, Real Oldies Music Radio is a heartfelt throwback to the days when radio had soul. Streaming 24/7 from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and heard worldwide on Live365, iHeart, and RealOldiesMusicRadio.com, this internet radio station is keeping the golden era of American music — and radio itself — gloriously alive.

Launched by Bob Becker, a Grand Rapids radio veteran since 1963, Real Oldies Music Radio is more than just another internet station. It’s a love letter to the music of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s — and to the DJs who lived it, spun it, and never stopped believing in its power to connect generations.

Bob Becker

Becker, whose father was a radio singer in the 1930s, began his career at WMAX Grand Rapids and went on to spin records and shape programming at WLAV, WGRD, WODJ, WOOD FM, and Real Oldies WGVU. He even lends his own voice to the station, occasionally singing on-air. Today, he funds the station himself and invites listeners to help keep the music playing.

Gary Hunt

At his side is longtime friend and fellow Grand Rapids legend Gary Hunt, whose radio journey began at age 13 with a pirate station. Gary’s deep love for vinyl, encyclopedic music knowledge, and smooth delivery make him a favorite on the Real Oldies airwaves.

Together, Bob and Gary built a station that blends nostalgia, energy, and true radio craftsmanship — joined by an incredible lineup of veteran broadcasters:

The Voices Behind the Music

• Bob Becker – The heart and founder of Real Oldies Music Radio, Bob’s been spinning hits since 1963 and has worked at top West Michigan stations. He brings decades of radio expertise and even performs vocally on the station.
• Gary Hunt – With roots in pirate radio and a lifelong passion for broadcasting, Gary brings warm delivery, deep musical knowledge, and a love for the golden hits of the ’50s–’70s to the station’s global audience.
• Jim Hampton – A nationally renowned radio producer and broadcaster with 50+ years in the industry. Jim has worked for WXYZ, WABX (Detroit), WLS (Chicago), as well as syndication with ABC, CBS, BBC, Tokyo FM and Radio Shanghai. On Real Oldies Music Radio he currently hosts Radio Recall, a rich audio scrapbook of great oldies of the 50s – 70s, classic Top40 jingles, vintage commercials, and more (Mon/Tues & Thurs/Fri).  Also, Jim hosts Mr. Sinatra – His Music, His Life, a two-night-a-week tribute (Wed/Sat) to the Chairman of the Board from a library of over 1,200 songs.
• Rockin’ Ray Baker – Known from WGRD Grand Rapids and BIG WISE in Asheville, Ray brings high energy, history, and showmanship to every shift — and has even shared a stage with Wolfman Jack.
• Bob Mason – A 35-year Grand Rapids 9-1-1 operator and dispatcher who never gave up his first love: radio. From WZZM-FM to WOOD, Bob brings unmatched experience and a calming presence to the mic.
• Mark Roberts – The voice of groove, Mark delivers the boss sounds of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s every Tuesday at noon with style and flair. From doo-wop to Motown, his sets are a musical time machine.
• Steven Edward – With a Victrola at home and Fleetwood Mac in his heart, Steven brings warmth, nostalgia, and reverence for the classics to every show.
• Dan “Brother Dan” Magnussen – Celebrating nearly 30 years in radio, Dan brings his signature energy and flair to RPM – The 70s Music Magazine, a mix of rock, pop, and disco.
• Paul Dee – Returning to the mic after a 55-year break, Paul brings an engineer’s precision and a DJ’s soul to a show built on the music he’s always loved.

More Than Music — It’s Radio History

Real Oldies Music Radio doesn’t just replay the past — it preserves it. In the vaults of this station are over 10,500 classic hits and rare records from the golden age of radio. These aren’t just chart-toppers; they’re deep cuts, B-sides, and forgotten gems that rarely surface on mainstream stations. Listeners are also treated to iconic radio segments like:

• Animal Stories – Hilarious segments from the legendary WLS-Chicago duo Larry Lujack and Tommy Edwards.
• Chickenman – The cult classic comedy series created by the late Dick Orkin.
• Mr. Sinatra, His Music, His Life – A carefully curated two-hour celebration of Frank Sinatra’s artistry, broadcast every Wednesday and Saturday.
• Classic  Radio Commercials– All those memorable commercials you grew up to are now saluted and featured throughout the day.

Mid-America Soul with a Global Reach

While Real Oldies is rooted in Grand Rapids, it has global ambition. Thanks to platforms like Live365 and iHeart, the station reaches listeners from California to Copenhagen — anyone who craves a return to real music and real radio.

It’s not about nostalgia for its own sake — it’s about honoring a time when music was made by hand, radio was live and local, and DJs were trusted friends behind the mic. It’s about preserving the stories behind the songs, the passion behind the playlists, and the personalities who kept us company through long drives and late nights.

As Bob Becker often says, “This isn’t just a station — it’s a mission.” One funded by love, sustained by listeners, and powered by timeless sound.

🎵 Real Oldies Music Radio
📡 Streaming 24/7 HERE
🌐 RealOldiesMusicRadio.com
🎙 Where the magic lives, and the good times roll.