Rock Radio Scrapbook

FROM THE ARCHIVES...

Talent: TOM SHANNON
Station: CKLW Windsor, Ont.
Date: July 28, 1965
Time: 7:43

They say "the sun never sets on the Shannon empire". And for half a century in radio and TV, that was certainly true.

Tom Shannon got his start in broadcasting at the dawn of the rock era, in 1955. His first station was Buffalo's WXRA (later WUFO), but his big break came in 1957 when he was hired by 50,000-watt WKBW. One can just imagine the thrill working alongside rock 'n' roll radio greats like Hound Dog Lorenz, Perry Allen, Russ Syracuse, Art Roberts, Dick Biondi and Jay Nelson. But 'KB was just the beginning for Shannon.

After a short stint at Buffalo's WGR in 1963, Shannon moved to Detroit  - a city he would be identified with as much as Buffalo. His first stop was CKLW, where he established himself as one of the Detroit area's top nighttime jocks during his five-year stay (1964-1969). He also did a morning show at WXYZ-TV in Detroit.

In 1969, Shannon moved to WXYZ radio in Detroit, then in 1972 it was on to Denver for TV work at KWGN-TV and radio at KHOW and KLZ. Shannon returned to 'CK in 1975, moving across the river to WTWR Detroit in 1980. He was back in Buffalo in 1982, with his outstanding "Pure Gold" midday show on WKBW.

Returning to Detroit in 1986 at WMJC, Shannon came back to Buffalo for a brief stay as WGR's morning man in 1988. But in 1989, he was back in Windsor-Detroit at CKLW-FM.

In 1993, Tom returned to his TV roots at the Shop at Home network in Tennessee before coming back to Buffalo in 1997. Tom spent eight years in afternoon drive at Oldies 104 (WHTT-FM) before retiring from a full-time shift in March, 2005. He continued with the station doing special features.

Whew! Now that's a career!

Hear Tom Shannon on CKLW in 1965 here.

(The Tom Howard Collection)


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