Tom Shannon was watching "The Simpsons" the other night when he suddenly heard his old radio theme song, "Wild Weekend," being played on the program. "It flipped me out; that damn song just keeps playing," said Shannon, 66, who today caps a 50-year broadcasting career when he retires from WHTT-FM 104.1. He will host his regular afternoon drive shift, from 3 p.m. until 7.
Shannon started at the old WXRA in 1955 while still a student at Bishop Ryan High School. A few years later, he became one of the hottest disc jockeys in the country working at WKBW-AM. While at KB, Shannon teamed with Phil Todaro to write "Wild Weekend." A local group called the Rebels recorded the instrumental version, and it became a Top 10 hit.
"People still identify me with that song," Shannon said, noting he still gets royalties from it. Shannon was asked if he will play "Wild Weekend" in today's final show. It would be a perfect final record from a guy who not only pioneered but grew up with rock radio.
"I'm thinking about playing it," is all Shannon would say. Shannon is a member of the Buffalo Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame, the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and the Buffalo State College Communications Department Hall of Fame. He has worked in radio and television in Detroit, Toledo, Denver, Canada and Buffalo.
Shannon came to WHTT about eight years ago and is thinking about retirement. "All this hasn't hit me yet. I never expected people to make this much of a fuss," Shannon said. Today has been proclaimed "Tom Shannon Day" in Buffalo, and he was presented a key to the city.
"I've got a lot of mixed emotions but I'm happy," Shannon said. "I'm just glad I was able to come back to Buffalo for this part of my career." Shannon was different than most radio personalities.
"He wasn't the wise guy or the funny guy," said Marty Biniasz, a radio historian. "Tommy was the epitome of cool. I think he made his listeners feel cool. The people who listened to him as teenagers felt that way; and when they listen to him now he still has that persona and brings back that same feeling."
Radio is a ruthless business. It's unusual for someone of Shannon's age and stature to have such a happy ending. "I thank God, I must be doing something right," he said. "You think by now I would have gotten bounced, but here I am. I wasn't the greatest DJ in the world, but I was a guy who loved what I'm doing."
Shannon will still do short music specials for WHTT and commercial endorsements. "I just want to thank all the people who have listened to me all these years," Shannon said. The feeling is mutual.
