October 30, 2015 [Friday] Issue #1455
ALL THE NEWS THAT IS NEWS
TX RADIO LOSES A BROADCAST LEGEND In 1965, Johnny Shannon and I are in the same First Class FCC license course at Elkins Institute in Dallas, TX. Inside our class is two other San Antonio radio legends – Nick St John and Jerry King. In 1968, when I exit 50,000 watt clear channel WFAA-820 in Dallas, TX to become PD/MD/PM Drive DJ on KBUC FM/AM in San Antonio Johnny is a night DJ on KTSA-550. In 1969, when KTSA-550 has Rock group Spiral Staircase in a concert, Johnny takes me to their hotel room after the show. Rock group Spiral Staircase and I discuss their love for Country music. Ironically, the security guard who gets members of Spiral Staircase to sign their photograph for his daughter, asks me to sign an autograph for him. In 1972, when I come back to San Antonio as PD/MD/AM Drive DJ on KBER FM/AM, Johnny and his second wife, Katy, return to San Antonio from his night DJ spot on WOR FM NYC that flips its call letters to WXLO FM while he is there. While a DJ on WXLO FM in NYC a thief steals their Mercury Cougar. Cops locate their auto on the streets of NYC. Johnny sends a picture of the drab apartment that he and Katy live in Hackensack, NJ. In January 1973, while a night DJ on KONO-860, Johnny asks if he and his second wife, Katy, can attend a private Charlie Rich concert with Elizabeth and me at a country club in San Antonio. As we sit at the table while Charlie sings his hit tune Behind Closed Doors Johnny’s second wife, Katy, assures me that she will be his last bride. In 2003, when Johnny is Production Manager and DJ on KAJA FM, he and his future fourth wife prepare to wed, he asks me to spend the weekend at their house in Kirby, TX on the east side of San Antonio. After Johnny gets off the air on KAJA FM at midnight we stay up all night long talking radio. Johnny Shannon is one of the best friends in radio that I ever have. His passing away is an extreme shock to us all!
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ELLEN K MOVES ON UP Ellen K, is born youngest of six Norwegian children on September 17, 1965 at the Stanford University hospital. Congratulations to the lovely Ms. Ellen K, co-host of On Air with Ryan Seacreston KIIS FM Los Angeles, who is the new voice of the 88th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood live on ABC TV. On Thursday, May 10, 2012 the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honors Ellen K with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
TRIVIA QUESTION: What is the origin of radio group name RKO? The answer appears below.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
•STEVE WEATHERFORD retired NFL punter who wins a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants receives a call to go back into the league on Saturday October 24, 2015 while he co-hosts his weekend radio show on ESPN WEPN FM (98.7) NYC from the New York Jets to replace injured punter Ryan Quigley. •ANDREW [Finnegan] HART WTMX FM (The Mix 101.9) Chicago, IL evening/fill-in personality exits for new morning show host spot on Entercom Adult Contemporary KOIT FM San Francisco, CA.
ENTERTAINMENT AND NEWS MILESTONES
•1957 WYTV TV ABC CH 33 in Youngstown, OH begins broadcasting on October 30th. •1966 EDDY ARNOLD[Lonely Again #1-1966] joins Country Music Hall Of Fame on October 22nd on ABC-TV’s The Jimmy Dean Show. •1979 NASA launches space vehicle S-203 on October 30th. •1982 ALABAMA debuts on The Grand Ole Opry on October 29th. •1990 ENGLAND & FRANCE complete The Channel Tunnel on October 30th.•2001 ALAN JACKSON records Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning) on October 29th.
EMAILS YES WE HAVE EMAIL
DERRELL HOLLY [former KIKK FM public affairs] (Arlington, VA) Subject: Radio Legend, ‘The Big Broadcast’ Host Ed Walker Dies At Age 83. Just wanted to make sure you saw this.http://wamu.org/ed_walker#.Vi5TEQYBU7w.facebook People here in the nation’s capital, including those who worked with him over the years speak very highly of Ed Walker. As one good friend said of Ed earlier today, “Wonderful guy who was also wonderful to everyone around him.” Hope all is well with you. Derrill E. Holly, Senior Writer-Editor, Electric Co-op Today, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
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[Gentleman] JIM CARTER [KCBQ-1170/KNUS FM/WFAA-570/KONO-860/KLIF-1190/KXOL-1360] (San Antonio, TX) Subject: Johnny Shannon. Hi Jim: Just a short note to let you that long time radio broadcaster Johnny Shannon passed away this morning at his home. Johnny was one of the most beloved and respected people in the San Antonio community, not just by radio people. Johnny worked at WOR-FM New York in 1972-’73., KILT Houston, KONO and KTSA San Antonio as well as others. Johnny was 70. He will sorely missed. Johnny’s son, John Jr. is planning a memorial service at the funeral home on Austin Highway. Details are pending. If you wish to offer your condolences to Johnny’s son he can be reached at 210-643-8356. Kindest regards, Gentleman Jim Carter P.S. Thank you for your desire to help. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed your chronological relationship story with Johnny. I’m glad you got to know him on a level that very few have. You’re a great guy Jimbo. Love to you and Suzy. Jim
LIZ PATRANELLA [Liz Houston – KTSA-550, KBAT-680] (Austin, TX) I am forwarding this message from Roger Allen. Great news … and congratulations to KONO! Liz Wanted to share some great news for the group. KONO 1011 received the highly prestigious NAB Marconi Award for Classic Hits Station of the Year! The NAB awards dinner was October 1st in Atlanta at the annual Radio Show. KONO was one of five finalist. I attended and gave brief acceptance remarks. The award was started in 1989. This is KONO’s first win and we are one of two San Antonio stations ever to receive the award (non-Spanish). Hope all the KONO alums are proud. We sure are! You can see a press release and photo at the NAB web site. See you soon. Tell everyone hello. Roger Allen
TRIVIA ANSWER: On October 23, 1928 RCA announces the creation of the Radio-Keith-Orpheum holding company, which we know as RKO, with David Sarnoff (GM of RCA) as its chairman of the board. Until 1959, RKO Pictures produces top movies. From the 1950s to the 1980s, RKO General is one of America’s major radio and TV broadcasters.
GARY DELAUNE [ex KLIF-1190/KRLD-1080 news/KENS TV CH 5 Sports Director] (San Antonio, TX) Subject: another season. Jim; Thanks for the story about Roy Nichols passing. A great guy and newscaster. The ranks are diminishing all too rapidly. Dick Enberg at 80, has a new pact with the San Diego Padres; Vern Scully at 86 continues to be the voice of the Dodgers. I just turned 82 and this year marks my 56th year to broadcast Texas high school football. The UIL told the NEISD that as far as their records indicate, no one else has spent that many years behind the prep games microphone. My passion is with the teens who play for the love of the game. I guess that was one reason I was lucky enough to be honored by the SA Sports Hall of Fame in February. Along with Pat Frost, Doug Moe and Lori Norwood…all just kids compared to my AARP card. Keep up the good work you do about us old geezers. Gary D. (www.garydnews.com)
THOMAS HARDY (1840-1928) Everybody is so talented nowadays that the only people I care to honor as deserving real distinction are those who remain in obscurity.
Jim Rose and Suzie
Houston, Texas – Laus Deo
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