All I Wanna Do Is Play the Hits!

Radio brought rock 'n' roll into the homes of millions of people growing up in the Sixties and Seventies. Rock 'n' roll was the currency of the day, and radio was where you enjoyed it. The internet didn't exist, television only had three networks, and there were no such things as satellites or streaming music platforms. The kings of every station were the irrepressible Top 40 DJs - the guys who entertained us for hours with witty repartee before, after and sometimes during those marvelous, magical hits only heard on the radio. With their voices in our ears for countless hours of every day, these (mostly) men were larger-than-life heroes who most people considered to be close friends and family. Top of every list must be Shotgun Tom Kelly, who joked with us, laughed with us, talked with us and brought us songs that would become the soundtrack to our young lives. Still playing the hits today, Shotgun Tom remains one of the last big Top 40 radio personalities. Even as the world's technology has changed around him, this bear of a man remains instantly identifiable by his trademark ranger hat and "brrrrrr-yah" sign-on. His transition from AM to FM to streaming online has expanded his impact from a handful of Southern California teenagers to a global audience that can't get enough of his sonorous voice. And from acquiring his much-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to the hundreds of stories he shares about Cousin Brucie, Wolfman Jack, The Real Don Steele, Stevie Wonder, and countless other mentors, associates, and friends, All I Wanna Do Is Play The Hits! delivers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the golden age of radio with a heartfelt and insightful story told firsthand by one of the most important people ever to turn a station's listeners into a community. In the words of one lifelong fan, "Radio was IT!" And here's Shotgun Tom Kelly in his ranger hat holding court, keeping us entertained and amused once more, and reminding us of the value and importance of spending time with good friends.

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All I Wanna Do Is Play the Hits!

Radio brought rock 'n' roll into the homes of millions of people growing up in the Sixties and Seventies. Rock 'n' roll was the currency of the day, and radio was where you enjoyed it. The internet didn't exist, television only had three networks, and there were no such things as satellites or streaming music platforms. The kings of every station were the irrepressible Top 40 DJs - the guys who entertained us for hours with witty repartee before, after and sometimes during those marvelous, magical hits only heard on the radio. With their voices in our ears for countless hours of every day, these (mostly) men were larger-than-life heroes who most people considered to be close friends and family. Top of every list must be Shotgun Tom Kelly, who joked with us, laughed with us, talked with us and brought us songs that would become the soundtrack to our young lives. Still playing the hits today, Shotgun Tom remains one of the last big Top 40 radio personalities. Even as the world's technology has changed around him, this bear of a man remains instantly identifiable by his trademark ranger hat and "brrrrrr-yah" sign-on. His transition from AM to FM to streaming online has expanded his impact from a handful of Southern California teenagers to a global audience that can't get enough of his sonorous voice. And from acquiring his much-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to the hundreds of stories he shares about Cousin Brucie, Wolfman Jack, The Real Don Steele, Stevie Wonder, and countless other mentors, associates, and friends, All I Wanna Do Is Play The Hits! delivers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the golden age of radio with a heartfelt and insightful story told firsthand by one of the most important people ever to turn a station's listeners into a community. In the words of one lifelong fan, "Radio was IT!" And here's Shotgun Tom Kelly in his ranger hat holding court, keeping us entertained and amused once more, and reminding us of the value and importance of spending time with good friends.

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All I Wanna Do Is Play the Hits!

All I Wanna Do Is Play the Hits!

All I Wanna Do Is Play the Hits!

All I Wanna Do Is Play the Hits!

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Overview

Radio brought rock 'n' roll into the homes of millions of people growing up in the Sixties and Seventies. Rock 'n' roll was the currency of the day, and radio was where you enjoyed it. The internet didn't exist, television only had three networks, and there were no such things as satellites or streaming music platforms. The kings of every station were the irrepressible Top 40 DJs - the guys who entertained us for hours with witty repartee before, after and sometimes during those marvelous, magical hits only heard on the radio. With their voices in our ears for countless hours of every day, these (mostly) men were larger-than-life heroes who most people considered to be close friends and family. Top of every list must be Shotgun Tom Kelly, who joked with us, laughed with us, talked with us and brought us songs that would become the soundtrack to our young lives. Still playing the hits today, Shotgun Tom remains one of the last big Top 40 radio personalities. Even as the world's technology has changed around him, this bear of a man remains instantly identifiable by his trademark ranger hat and "brrrrrr-yah" sign-on. His transition from AM to FM to streaming online has expanded his impact from a handful of Southern California teenagers to a global audience that can't get enough of his sonorous voice. And from acquiring his much-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to the hundreds of stories he shares about Cousin Brucie, Wolfman Jack, The Real Don Steele, Stevie Wonder, and countless other mentors, associates, and friends, All I Wanna Do Is Play The Hits! delivers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the golden age of radio with a heartfelt and insightful story told firsthand by one of the most important people ever to turn a station's listeners into a community. In the words of one lifelong fan, "Radio was IT!" And here's Shotgun Tom Kelly in his ranger hat holding court, keeping us entertained and amused once more, and reminding us of the value and importance of spending time with good friends.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9798990895614
Publisher: Jch Media Inc.
Publication date: 07/22/2024
Pages: 280
Sales rank: 818,980
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

"Shotgun Tom" Kelly has been entertaining Southern California radio and TV audiences for over 45 years. He has worked at such renowned radio stations as KGB (in its "Boss Radio" days) and gained national acclaim at the legendary KCBQ. "Shotgun Tom" was honored at B-100 radio (KFMB-FM) with the Billboard magazine Air Personality of the Year Award for Major Markets in the mid-70's. He also received two Emmy Awards for his performance as host of the McGraw-Hill syndicated TV word game show "Words-a-Poppin'" for children. For twelve years at KUSI-TV he was host of their morning and afternoon children's programs. In 1997, after a nationwide talent search, "Shotgun Tom" Kelly was chosen by CBS Radio's K-EARTH 101/Los Angeles to fill the coveted afternoon drive slot after the death of The Real Don Steele. In 2000, "Shotgun Tom" won Radio and Records "Oldies Air Personality of the Year" and competed for that award with radio personalities in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit. "Shotgun Tom" is also heard around the country doing voice work and commercials for many other stations. In 2013, "Shotgun Tom" Kelly received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and La Brea Ave.

Neil Ross is a veteran voice actor and former deejay who has provided voices for many popular cartoons and animated TV shows, including "G.I. Joe," "Spider-Man," "Voltron, and "Transformers," as well as such video games as "Call of Duty," "Mass Effect" and "Doom 3." Ross has also provided voice roles for many movies, including Back to the Future Part II, Babe, and Quiz Show. Ross was the announcer for the 75th Annual Academy Awards Telecast in 2003, and the Emmy Awards Telecast in 2004. He has also narrated numerous episodes of A&E's Biography, and many editions of NOVA on PBS (including "Mars - Dead or Alive," which was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2004). Born in London and raised in Canada, Ross came to the United States when he was 12, settling in San Diego, and began his career as a deejay, working on radio stations in Salt Lake City Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, where he was on KCBQ just before Shotgun Tom Kelly's arrival.

Thomas K. Arnold is an award-winning journalist, writer and editor who has been covering the home entertainment industry for nearly three decades. He currently serves as publisher and editorial director of Media Play News, one of the five Hollywood trades and the only one to focus on the distribution of content to the home on all three major platforms: streaming, digital, and the physical disc. He joined Video Store Magazine, Media Play News' predecessor, in 1991. Arnold is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, summits and other events, including CES, Digital Hollywood, and events produced by trade associations DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group and OTT.X. He has written for Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times, and appeared on television to talk about home entertainment issues on CNN's "Showbiz Tonight," "Entertainment Tonight," and the G4 network's "Attack of the Show." Arnold is an alumnus of San Diego State University, where he majored in Business Management and minored in Journalism.
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