The David Adams Collection

[Description by contributor David Adams] Tom Shannonwkbwradio.com Tom Shannon first joined the staff of WKBW in 1958 at the age of 20. He spent a year and a half doing weekends before moving into the 6-9 PM slot when it was vacated by Dick Biondi, who departed for WLS Chicago. Within a very short period of time, Shannon’s youthful delivery and striking good looks catapulted his status to one of the highest rated jocks in the history of Buffalo radio. His “Tommy Shannon” theme song would go on to become one of Top 40’s all-time great instrumentals, when he wrote and produced “Wild Weekend” by The Rockin’ Rebels. This ‘scoped exhibit features Tom Shannon’s entire 6-9 pm show, composited from July 1961. It perfectly illustrates why WKBW became a broadcast legend. Shannon went on to work at CKLW before returning to Buffalo. In 2001, Tom Shannon was honored by the Buffalo Broadcast Pioneers when they inducted him into their Hall of Fame.

[Description by contributor David Adams]This gem was hidden away in a box marked “Specials”, and not only includes an aircheck of The Monkees taking over the Bob Shannon Show at KRUX, but it’s also an aircheck of the final episode of the Monkees very successful first season. The episode was titled “The Monkees on Tour”, and it begins with their arrival at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor to the screams of thousands of hysterical teens. On the following night the infamous Monkee mobile is seen racing across town to KRUX. They storm the control room before binding and gagging the city’s most popular DJ, Bob Shannon.

The aircheck is a (partially restored) 45-minute composite of the two and a half hours that Michael Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones actually ran the control board, spun the records and played all the commercials themselves. (Peter Tork wasn’t feeling well and stayed at the hotel.) On a more personal note, not only was my dad featured in this episode, but my mom was too. Strangely, neither of them knew each other at the time, but whatever it was that finally brought them together, I’ll be forever grateful!

It was also during this show that the Monkees invited the entire city of Phoenix to join them at the prestigious Mountain Shadows Hotel for an open party later that night. Panic-stricken executives from both the radio station and hotel quickly pressured the group to recant their invitation. In an effort to avoid a disaster and bring some levity to the situation, Mike Nesmith is heard conducting an interview with the hotel manager, played by Bob Shannon.

This aircheck may represent the first appearance of The Monkees performing collectively as Top Forty jocks. The concert, emceed by Shannon and the KRUX Good Guys, was held the following night at the Phoenix Coliseum on January 21, 1967. It marked the Monkees’ first concert appearance, and the final episode of their 1966 TV Season.

[Description by contributor David Adams]

This gem was hidden away in a box marked “Specials”, and not only includes an aircheck of The Monkees taking over the Bob Shannon Show at KRUX, but it’s also an aircheck of the final episode of the Monkees very successful first season. The episode was titled “The Monkees on Tour”, and it begins with their arrival at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor to the screams of thousands of hysterical teens. On the following night the infamous Monkee mobile is seen racing across town to KRUX. They storm the control room before binding and gagging the city’s most popular DJ, Bob Shannon.

The aircheck is a (partially restored) 45-minute composite of the two and a half hours that Michael Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones actually ran the control board, spun the records and played all the commercials themselves. (Peter Tork wasn’t feeling well and stayed at the hotel.) On a more personal note, not only was my dad featured in this episode, but my mom was too. Strangely, neither of them knew each other at the time, but whatever it was that finally brought them together, I’ll be forever grateful!

It was also during this show that the Monkees invited the entire city of Phoenix to join them at the prestigious Mountain Shadows Hotel for an open party later that night. Panic-stricken executives from both the radio station and hotel quickly pressured the group to recant their invitation.

In an effort to avoid a disaster and bring some levity to the situation, Mike Nesmith is heard conducting
an interview with the hotel manager, played by Bob Shannon.

This aircheck may represent the first appearance of The Monkees performing collectively as Top Forty jocks. The concert, emceed by Shannon and the KRUX Good Guys, was held the following night at the Phoenix Coliseum on January 21, 1967. It marked the Monkees’ first concert appearance, and the final episode of their 1966 TV Season.

[Description by contributor David Adams]Don Bombard, 1969

This Exhibit ‘SCOPED (03:22)
All reportable music performances have been removed. Please remember that in addition to music licensing fees for the mostly UNSCOPED version, there are bandwidth and hardware costs for this ‘SCOPED version, and anything streamed from REELRADIO. We welcome your support.

Don Bombard was a hometown boy who spent his first 14 years in radio working at his favorite radio stations, WOLF and WNDR. His upbeat, friendly style is clearly illustrated in this restored, composite aircheck from the spring and summer of 1969.

Don also spent several years at 13Q Pittsburgh before joining WCBS-FM in New York City, where he became known as Bob Shannon while working for Program Director Joe McCoy.

[Description by contributor David Adams] Don Bombard, 1969 This Exhibit ‘SCOPED (03:22) All reportable music performances have been removed. Please remember that in addition to music licensing fees for the mostly UNSCOPED version, there are bandwidth and hardware costs for this ‘SCOPED version, and anything streamed from REELRADIO. We welcome your support. Don Bombard was a hometown boy who spent his first 14 years in radio working at his favorite radio stations, WOLF and WNDR. His upbeat, friendly style is clearly illustrated in this restored, composite aircheck from the spring and summer of 1969. Don also spent several years at 13Q Pittsburgh before joining WCBS-FM in New York City, where he became known as Bob Shannon while working for Program Director Joe McCoy.

[Description by contributor David Adams] This Exhibit ‘SCOPED (10:57) All reportable music performances have been removed. Please remember that in addition to music licensing fees for the mostly UNSCOPED version, there are bandwidth and hardware costs for this ‘SCOPED version, and anything streamed from REELRADIO. We welcome your support. The original Bob Shannon of top forty radio is another western New Yorker who spent his high school years listening to WKBW. According to Bob, “WKBW and it’s outstanding line up of jocks like Perry Allen, Art Roberts, Dick Biondi, George “Hound Dog” Lorenz, Fred Klestine, Russ “The Moose” Syracuse, Joey Reynolds, Dan Neaverth, and Tom Shannon was one of America’s great radio stations in the late fifties and early sixties. Tom Shannon had left such an indelible mark on me that when I finally broke into the biz, 1 did the only thing a young impressionable young jock could do — I stole his name. Incredibly a few years after finishing high school, I found myself living my boyhood dream when I joined the staff of WKBW in 1968.” Bob Shannon, 1968 Shannon would go on to work for several other legendary stations like KXOK St. Louis, KDWB Minneapolis/St. Paul, WIXY Cleveland, KCBQ San Diego, KJR Seattle, and KFI, KHJ and KRTH-FM, Los Angeles. By 1968, much of KB’s luster had worn off from the days when the great personalities graced the hallways in the late 50’s and early 60’s. But still, the station was energetic, fast-paced and tight, as displayed here by 21-year-old Bob Shannon during the “Classic Hour” from 11 pm to midnight. This was originally a studio aircheck. Bob Shannon himself restored all but the first song, in stereo. In addition to a few classic PAMS jingles, you’ll hear an episode of Chickenman.

[Description by contributor David Adams] This Exhibit ‘SCOPED (10:57) All reportable music performances have been removed. Please remember that in addition to music licensing fees for the mostly UNSCOPED version, there are bandwidth and hardware costs for this ‘SCOPED version, and anything streamed from REELRADIO. We welcome your support. The original Bob Shannon of top forty radio is another western New Yorker who spent his high school years listening to WKBW. According to Bob, “WKBW and it’s outstanding line up of jocks like Perry Allen, Art Roberts, Dick Biondi, George “Hound Dog” Lorenz, Fred Klestine, Russ “The Moose” Syracuse, Joey Reynolds, Dan Neaverth, and Tom Shannon was one of America’s great radio stations in the late fifties and early sixties. Tom Shannon had left such an indelible mark on me that when I finally broke into the biz, 1 did the only thing a young impressionable young jock could do — I stole his name. Incredibly a few years after finishing high school, I found myself living my boyhood dream when I joined the staff of WKBW in 1968.” Bob Shannon, 1968 Shannon would go on to work for several other legendary stations like KXOK St. Louis, KDWB Minneapolis/St. Paul, WIXY Cleveland, KCBQ San Diego, KJR Seattle, and KFI, KHJ and KRTH-FM, Los Angeles. By 1968, much of KB’s luster had worn off from the days when the great personalities graced the hallways in the late 50’s and early 60’s. But still, the station was energetic, fast-paced and tight, as displayed here by 21-year-old Bob Shannon during the “Classic Hour” from 11 pm to midnight. This was originally a studio aircheck. Bob Shannon himself restored all but the first song, in stereo. In addition to a few classic PAMS jingles, you’ll hear an episode of Chickenman.

[Description by Uncle Ricky. Contributed by David Adams] This ‘scoped aircheck won’t win any awards for fidelity, but it is a great example of CKLW in its prime. And it includes the contest winner of a $2,600 prize! It’s a composite, featuring the second half of the 8 PM hour on November 17, 1967, and April 2, 1968. Both Byron McGregor and Don West are heard with a complete 20/20 newscast. Tom Shannon came to The Big 8 after great success in Buffalo, N.Y. at powerhouse WKBW. He retired from full-time radio at WHTT-FM Buffalo, in March of 2005.

[Description by contributor David Adams]

When Don Bombard began doing afternoon drive at WCBS-FM in New York, PD Joe McCoy suggested he call himself Bob Shannon. He quickly became one of New York’s best known DJs. According to Don, “my namesake was yet another “Bob Shannon” who worked for the TM Century production company!” (as of June, 2006, that “Bob Shannon” is on the Board of Directors of REELRADIO, Inc..)

The first Bob Shannon in the radio business was Bob “Shamrock” Shannon (d. 08-15-2000), the longtime radio and TV announcer who worked for the CBS network in the 1940s and 1950s.

Don’s introduction to oldies came in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the former 13Q (WKTQ) with his Sunday Night Oldies Party. At the time, he couldn’t have known that the Oldies Party was a warm-up to a twenty year career in afternoon drive at WCBS-FM.

Thanks to Don Bombard, Rob Frankel and Tom Buck for assistance in restoring the music to this REELRADIO exhibit. ALL REELRADIO exhibits are copyrighted by REELRADIO, Inc. as of the date of publication and are licensed for real-time streaming, only. Do NOT duplicate, trade, or sell this copyrighted recording.]

[Description by contributor David Adams]

When Don Bombard began doing afternoon drive at WCBS-FM in New York, PD Joe McCoy suggested he call himself Bob Shannon. He quickly became one of New York’s best known DJs. According to Don, “my namesake was yet another “Bob Shannon” who worked for the TM Century production company!” (as of June, 2006, that “Bob Shannon” is on the Board of Directors of REELRADIO, Inc..)

The first Bob Shannon in the radio business was Bob “Shamrock” Shannon (d. 08-15-2000), the longtime radio and TV announcer who worked for the CBS network in the 1940s and 1950s.

Don’s introduction to oldies came in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the former 13Q (WKTQ) with his Sunday Night Oldies Party. At the time, he couldn’t have known that the Oldies Party was a warm-up to a twenty year career in afternoon drive at WCBS-FM.

Thanks to Don Bombard, Rob Frankel and Tom Buck for assistance in restoring the music to this REELRADIO exhibit. ALL REELRADIO exhibits are copyrighted by REELRADIO, Inc. as of the date of publication and are licensed for real-time streaming, only. Do NOT duplicate, trade, or sell this copyrighted recording.]