Scott Shannon
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Michael Scott Shannon (born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1935) is a radio disc jockey, current co-host of the "Scott and Todd in the Morning" show on WPLJ, host of The True Oldies Channel, and the official voice of The Sean Hannity Show.
Early Radio Career
Born in St. Louis, Scott Shannon grew up an Army brat, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Scott started his radio career during his own Army stint at WFBS 1450 AM in Spring Lake, North Carolina (now WFBX). From there he moved to WCLS 1580 AM in Columbus, Georgia. After leaving the army, Shannon worked full-time in radio at WABB, where he acquired the name "Super Shan".[1] After a short time at WMPS in Memphis, Scott moved to Nashville as the evening disc jockey at WMAK 1300 AM. Shannon later became program director of WMAK. Under his direction, the station became the market's top-rated station.
Record Promotion Career
Shannon left Nashville to take a job as a record promoter with Casablanca Records and while there in 1977, recorded an album with Jack (Stack-A-Track) Grochmal. Calling themselves "Wildfire", they had a #49 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 remaking a Jerry Keller song from 1959 called "Here Comes Summer". Scott returned to radio in Washington, D.C. as program director of WPGC-FM, taking that station to the #1 spot in the Arbitron ratings. From there to WQXI in Atlanta. Then, in Tampa, Florida, Scott, along with partner Cleveland Wheeler, developed the morning zoo radio format while at WRBQ, known as Q105. Again, he shined in the ratings, this time making his station one of the most listened to in the United States. He was also primarily responsible for the renaissance of the musical career of vocalist Charlene, whose song "I've Never Been to Me" he revived by his programming of the long-dormant track.
Scott also had hosted a "where are they now?" radio program in 1989, where the subject of the day was the one hit wonder, Benny Mardones, who had the 1980 hit "Into The Night". Scott began putting the record in rotation in 1989, and soon after, many other DJs around the nation re-added the song to their playlists. The song re-entered the top 20 singles chart, prompting a resurgence in Benny Mardones's career including a new re-recording of the song, touring schedule, and new record.
The Z Morning Zoo
Scott is perhaps most famous within the radio business for his work on Z100 in New York City in the mid to late 80's. Shannon, along with former disc jockey Ross Brittain of WABC's popular "Ross & Wilson Show", founded the "Z Morning Zoo." He was the driving force in helping Z100 become the top-rated FM station in New York City in just 74 days after signing on the air. Z100 capitalized on using a Top 40 radio format. During this period, Shannon also served as one of the original VJs on VH1.
Pirate Radio KQLZ
In 1989, Shannon left Z100 in what was an emotional farewell to head to Los Angeles to start up Pirate Radio, KQLZ. Pirate Radio employed a similar Top 40 concept. As the 1990s started, Top 40 radio began to struggle and eventually Pirate Radio struggled as well, leading to Shannon's departure. He was known as "El Diablo" in Los Angeles because of a billboard image that made him look like the devil.
Back to New York
In 1991 he returned to New York and resurfaced on Z100's biggest rival, WPLJ. WPLJ had also been struggling since its glory days of the mid 1980s, and Shannon became program director and morning drive co-host. At the outset, the station was aimed right at Z100 and used the slogan "Mojo Radio," downplaying the WPLJ call letters, but this approach was eventually changed. Shannon created a Top 40 format that was geared more toward the adult contemporary audience, brought in co-host Todd Pettengill to form "The Big Show," and the WPLJ call letters were re-emphasized. The "new" WPLJ has not generally equalled the ratings of Z100, but it has found a niche in the New York radio market.
True Oldies Channel
In addition to his New York morning show, Scott can be heard across the country on The True Oldies Channel radio network.
Industry Recognition
Scott is one of several disc jockeys honored in an exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 2000, FMBQ, a radio trade magazine, named Shannon "Program Director of the Century."
In 2003, he was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C., and in 2006 he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago, Illinois.
Scott has also been a successful radio consultant in the 1990s for WPLY Philadelphia and WKCI-FM New Haven.
In September 2010, Scott was named Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year at the 2010 National Association of Broadcasters' Marconi Radio Awards.
Personal information
Shannon lives in Westchester County, New York and has a tree on his house.
References
- ^ Farber, Erica (2003-04-11). "Publisher's Profile: Scott Shannon". Radio & Records.