Bob Labbe: Huntsville’s Radio Icon Claims Personality of the Year Honors

Bob Labbe has spent 53 years behind the mic, turning vinyl spins into unforgettable Friday nights for listeners across Alabama. The veteran broadcaster just earned Large-Market Radio Personality of the Year from the Alabama Broadcasters Association at the 20th annual Abby Awards, one of six wins for WLRH Public Radio that night.

A Childhood Dream Realized on Air

Labbe, now 72, once played pretend radio in his room as a kid. Today he lives that dream every Friday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on WLRH 89.3 FM, hosting the live four-hour show Reelin’ In The Years since 1990.

Source: Hindustan Times / WLRH Instagram

He pulls every track straight from his personal collection of more than 20,000 original 45-rpm records spanning the 1950s through the 1990s. Pop, R&B, rock, and country classics arrive with trivia, rare artist interviews, and weekly contests that keep the energy high.

The Guru of Oldies Delivers Pure Nostalgia

Labbe earned his stripes early, launching his radio career straight out of high school in Huntsville before studying at Elkins Institute in Nashville and Columbia School of Broadcasting. He later became an award-winning sportscaster on local Channel 31 television and a freelance writer for publications including The Madison Record. Yet he calls this radio gig the one that means the most.

Source: Geo news / WHNT News Sound Bites

His deep dives into pop music history, paired with listener prizes and personal stories from music legends, have made Reelin’ In The Years a Huntsville institution for 35 straight years.

Why This Award Hits Different

In his acceptance speech, Labbe admitted he was “totally shocked” by the win. He has collected honors for television and decades of newspaper writing, but this one stands apart. It celebrates the very passion that started in his childhood bedroom.

Source: ArtThreat / WHNT News

Tune in live or stream it anytime at wlrh.org. What oldie would you request from Bob’s legendary collection? Drop your pick in the comments below, hit that like button if classic radio still moves you, and tell us which Friday night track takes you straight back in time.

Watch Bob Labbe’s full award moment here: Bob Labbe Wins Radio Personality of the Year.

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#RadioLegend #OldiesRevival #WLRH #ReelinInTheYears #AlabamaRadio

Sources WLRH.org official bio and show page Hindustan Times (April 16, 2026) WHNT News coverage of Abby Awards