CLAY MASTER GOES TO MOTOWN . . . . JUNE 12,1971

Former Detroit Radio DJ Tom Clay Finds Home For Disk on West Coast Motown Label

**TOM CLAY** 1971 *(Photo credit: Bonnie Dater Jay)*

LOS ANGELES — Tom Clay, veteran radio personality now freelancing in this area, this week turned over his produced master, “Tom Clay’s ‘What the World Needs Now‘,” to Motown Records (MoWest), with Dick Sherman, West Coast sales director for the firm, promising Clay free records so Clay could satisfy a previously-made deal with listeners, who wrote in for free copies. Clay said that he had 17 thousand written requests for freebies disks, when he withdrew the offer June 1.

Clay prepared for his two-week vacation-fill slot over KGBS, local radio station here, by doing an eight -minute production, which he felt expressed his philosophy on the contemporary world situation. The recorded production in- interwove music and news events in Clay’s narration with special emphasis on Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy, and John F. Kennedy.

Clay played the record production once on his first day at KGBS on May 22. He was off Sunday but when he returned on May 24, disk jockeys who had been on KGBS over the weekend told him of repeated requests. The deal is one of the label’s rare master purchases.

Dave Bell, Motown West Coast A&R chief, went into the studio June 1 and re-cut the entire production, cutting the time from over 8 minutes to 6 minutes and 20 seconds. Motown is rushing the record for national release.

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Information credit and news source: Billboard; June 12, 1971

TOM SHANNON. A CKLW REMEMBRANCE. JANUARY 17, 1977

Tom Shannon Remembered on Motor City Radio Flashbacks

CKLW | DATE: MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1977

In Memory of Tom Shannon

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**CKLW Tom Shannon** Detroit Free Press, January 20, 1980

He was a Detroit radio and television broadcasting legend. His voice was heard for over four decades on numerous great Detroit radio stations, such as CKLW, WJBK, WXYZ, WCAR, WMJC, WTWR, CKMR, and WCXI. Tom once had said that he did (to paraphrase his exact words), “three ‘tours of duty’ at CKLW. In the ’60s, ’70s, and in the ’80s.”

He formally began his illustrious radio career as a news person, while in his teens, in Buffalo in 1955. He left Buffalo’s WKBW for CKLW in Windsor in December 1964, replacing Terry Knight.

After 50 years in radio (and television) and having been in multiple radio markets around the country, Tom Shannon retired from broadcasting radio in 2005. Tom’s last DJ stint was on WHTT-FM, Buffalo. He was 67 at the time.

Surrounded by his loving family, Tom Shannon died of pancreatic cancer while in hospice care, Wednesday, May 26, 2021. He was 82.

Tom Shannon is a member of the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame and Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.

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— Tom Shannon Remembered —

See: Susan Whitall’s published Detroit News article on Tom Shannon (May 27, 2021) GO HERE

Also: Tommy Shannon, Legendary Buffalo Broadcaster, Dies at 82 (The Buffalo News; May 27, 2021) GO HERE

Also: DJ Tom Shannon’s Cause of Death Relates to Long-Time Illness (US Day News; May 29, 2021) GO HERE

Also: A 1961 WKBW Tom Shannon aircheck (5 min.) from the Buffalo Broadcasters Association website, listen HERE

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— In Remembrance —

In observance of his passing last week, Wednesday, May 26, 2021, Motor City Radio Flashbacks will present three CKLW and one WMJC Tom Shannon audio memory beginning (Wednesday) June 2, (Thursday) June 3, (Friday) June 4, and (Saturday) June 5.

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Motor City Radio Flashbacks Remembers

The featured CKLW Tom Shannon aircheck was audio enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

TOM SHANNON. A CKLW REMEMBRANCE. NOVEMBER 17, 1967

Tom Shannon Remembered on Motor City Radio Flashbacks

CKLW | DATE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1967

In Memory of Tom Shannon

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**Tom Shannon** on CKLW, 1979 (click image 2x for largest view)

He formally began his illustrious radio career as a news person, while in his teens, in Buffalo in 1955. He left Buffalo’s WKBW for CKLW in Windsor in December 1964, replacing Terry Knight.

Surrounded by his loving family, Tom Shannon died of pancreatic cancer while in hospice care, Wednesday, May 26, 2021. He was 82.

Tom Shannon is a member of the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame and Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.

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— Tom Shannon Remembered —

See: Susan Whitall’s published Detroit News article on Tom Shannon (May 27, 2021) GO HERE

Also: Tommy Shannon, Legendary Buffalo Broadcaster, Dies at 82 (The Buffalo News; May 27, 2021) GO HERE

Also: DJ Tom Shannon’s Cause of Death Relates to Long-Time Illness (US Day News; May 29, 2021) GO HERE

Also: A 1961 WKBW Tom Shannon aircheck (5 min.) from the Buffalo Broadcasters Association website, listen HERE

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— In Remembrance —

In observance of his passing one week ago, May 26, 2021, Motor City Radio Flashbacks will present three CKLW and one WMJC Tom Shannon audio memory in the next four days, beginning (Wednesday) June 2, (Thursday) June 3, (Friday) June 4, and (Saturday) June 5.

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Motor City Radio Flashbacks Remembers

The featured CKLW Tom Shannon aircheck was audio enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

THE PAMS ‘CLYDE’ PRODUCTION ’70s SERIES: WKNR 1310

**WKNR ‘PAMS’ Jingles HEARD on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

WKNR-AM | “CLYDE” | 1970-1971

PAMS PRODUCTIONS, DALLAS, TX

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According to renown master jinglecologist Ken R., by 1970, WKNR had returned to a male-voiced custom package from PAMS which originally was titled “Sig Alert.” Accordingly, the package had been dubiously named after a traffic reporter in Los Angeles. The title of the package was later changed to “Clyde.” PAMS later told Ken R. the name was given because they didn’t come up a specific title for the (WKNR) package at the time. Adding as well, according to the keener.com webpage (see: Jingles) . . . . “Jonathan Wolfert, who went on to found JAM Creative Productions, made up some words to justify the title: “contemporary logos you don’t expect.” But listeners didn’t know that and PAMS never made it public.”

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The featured PAMS WKNR jingle package was audio enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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Licensed by PAMS, Dallas, this PAMS jingles package was made available (in the early 2000s) by Ken R Productions, Toledo, Ohio.

GARY KING LEAVES KXOK FOR WCZY DETROIT POST . . . . OCTOBER 8, 1983

Former KXOK PD Transitions Here As New WCZY Mid-Afternoon Personality, Music Director

DETROIT — “There wasn’t a whole lot of decision making to be done,” admits KXOK St. Louis PD Gary King about the announcement of his move to Gannett’s WCZY here, where he’ll do mid-days and serve as the AC station’s music director. “It was an opportunity to work with Lee (Douglas, station manager of WCZY and former KXOK GM) again and the most exciting company in broadcasting today.”

King, who sees his future in the eventual ownership of a chain of properties, started out at Louisville’s WAKY and then moved to Baton Rouge’s WJBO /WFMF, where he was operations director prior to his move to St. Louis a year ago. Coming on board as acting PD and afternoon drive talent at KXOK, his title was not made official until this August. At that time, the Storz station had already transitioned primarily to talk, and King was doing mornings.

That shift will now be held by former midday man Charlie Brown, who, without the title, will be handling King’s PD chores. Afternoons, which were vacated last month by Pat Riley (Billboard, Oct. 1), are now being done by longtime KXOK per- sonality Johnny Rabbit, using his own name, Ron Elz, as the station continues to move in an all-talk direction with 20-year veteran Nick Charles handling mid-days.

With the addition of King in mid-days at WCZY, the Detroit lineup now features Dick Purtan in mornings and former WCAO Baltimore personality Lou Roberts in afternoons. Former WCZY afternoon talent Marc Avery now does that shift on CKLW here, while Dave Prince moves into the ‘CZY evening shift. END

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Information credit and news source: Billboard; October 8, 1983

THIS WEEK 61 YEARS AGO: THE HOTTEST HIT IN THE USA!

NUMBER ONE IN AMERICA | MAY 1 – MAY 22, 1960

— NUMBER ONE 1960 —

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SIXTEEN WEEKS overall on the singles chart, “Stuck On You” by Elvis Presley peaked this month at No. 01 (4 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending, May 1, through week-ending, May 22 1960. (Source: Billboard)

For more Billboard Number One U.S.A. Hits go HERE

THIS WEEK 58 YEARS AGO: THE HOTTEST HIT IN THE USA!

NUMBER ONE IN AMERICA | APRIL 27 – MAY 11, 1963

— NUMBER ONE 1963 —

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FOURTEEN WEEKS overall on the singles chart, “I Will Follow Him” by Little Peggy March peaked this month at No. 01 (3 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending, April 27, through week-ending, May 11, 1963. (Source: Billboard)

For more Billboard Number One U.S.A. Hits go HERE

THIS WEEK 56 YEARS AGO: THE HOTTEST HIT IN THE USA!

NUMBER ONE IN AMERICA | MAY 1 – MAY 15, 1965

— NUMBER ONE 1965 —

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ELEVEN WEEKS overall on the singles chart, “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” by Herman’s Hermits peaked this month at No. 01 (3 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending, May 1, through the week-ending, May 15 1965. (Source: Billboard)

For more Billboard Number One U.S.A. Hits go HERE

THIS WEEK IN AMERICA! BILLBOARD HOT 100: MAY 9, 1964

— NUMBER ONE SINGLE IN AMERICA —

“HELLO, DOLLY!” | LOUIS ARMSTRONG | KAPP 573

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BILLBOARD HOT 100 TABULATED BY RECORDS RETAIL SALES AND RADIO AIRPLAY

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MAY 3 through MAY 9, 1964

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“Hello, Dolly!” by Louis Armstrong debuted on the Billboard singles chart at #76, for the week ending, February 15, 1964. The Armstrong single would make its eventual climb to the top — for one week only — having knocked off the Beatles’ five-week hold on the #1 spot with their hit, “Can’t Buy Me Love”, beginning May 3 through week-ending May 9.

An astounding 22 weeks on the pop singles chart, “Hello, Dolly!” dropped to #44 on its last week on Billboard, week-ending July 11, 1964.

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