Lee "The Horn" Alan

Allan Lyle Reicheld, 89 of N. Fort Myers, Florida passed away on October 29, 2024 at Cape Coral Memorial Hospital. Allan was born in Clinton, Iowa on November 5, 1934 to Allan Leighton Reicheld and Bernedine Clara Keller Reicheld. In addition to his Parents Allan was preceded in death by his Sister Karen Reicheld Riley and Nephew Alan Riley.

Allan is Survived by his wife Nancy Matthews Davis Reicheld of Lillington, North Carolina and N. Ft. Myers, Fla., Step-son Kenneth (his right hand), Step-daughter, Dayna (Jack) and Grandchildren, Daniel, Max (Autum), Makenna and New Great Grandbaby, Juniper.

Today we lost another radio great. Detroit's Lee Alan "On The Horn" was perhaps the most important disc jockey to have graced the airwaves in the Motor City.

Allan Graduated from the Michigan State and Wayne State and then enlisted in the Army where he was on the radio. After his Tour of Duty He began his career on WJLB, then WJBK and then it was on WKHM (later WKNR) that he first captured the younger generation. While the station was very limited in signal, Lee managed to make a lot of noise in Detroit. Enough that he was hired by ABC's WXYZ radio, where he held the coveted 7-Midnight show playing Top 40 music. If you were to drive through Detroit's drive-ins, you would hear Lee's #1 show on car radios.

Lee was the ultimate promoter, reviving the legendary Walled Lake Casino with the help of Detroit's teenagers. He would broadcast his show live while the biggest music names appeared, like Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons, Stevie Wonder and all the Motown artists, and more. When Chuck Berry was serving time in Federal Prison, Lee began playing his records on WXYZ. He helped this 50's star become hugely popular again in the 60's. In fact, Lee helped him get paroled and brought him out to Walled Lake Casino. There was so much anticipation on the night of the performance that roads were backed up for miles as Lee's audience made their way to see Chuck perform.

Lee was no stranger to TV. He partnered with another WXYZ personality, Joel Sebastian, to host CLUB 1270, a TV dance party every Saturday on WXYZ TV Channel 7 that achieved top ratings. Lee ruled the airwaves in Detroit for many years.

After a lengthy stint at WXYZ Radio, Lee started the Lee Alan School of Broadcasting which he sold later to Specs Howard. The Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts continued helping thousands of young people start a career in broadcasting Lee then opened an advertising agency which specialized in car commercials. Lee and his agency created some of the most memorable automobile ad campaigns ever done. He was also a Ford 20 Group Speaker.

In his career, Lee had many opportunities to leave Detroit for other radio markets. He was a hot property, but he always remained in Detroit, the city he grew up in. When he and Nancy finally move, it was to Florida, where Lee used his amazing voice and production skills to be one of the first to produce Audible Books. He was very prolific and sought after producing countless titles of various genres. In fact, he was one of the most successful producer /voice-over artists in that field.

Not content with just radio, television & audiobooks, Lee also wrote a book about his career called, "Turn Your Radio On" Published and sold by his Nancy. He then narrated his own audiobook in which he recalls so many amazing tales about his career highs and lows.

A new audio book about his life and other DJs he knew was being completed prior to his passing. This project is already being picked up and kept in production and will be available to the public as soon as possible.

Lee also had 4 Children, Dawn, Bill, Lee and Sarah and several Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren and Nieces and Nephews. Lee also has many loving & dedicated fans who still remember "Lee Alan On The Horn'.

Lee will receive a Military Burial at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers a GoFundMe has been organized to aid in Medical and Burial Expenses. https://gofund.me/44a797d4