Scott Shannon

Michael Scott Shannon is a radio disc jockey, current co-host of "The Big Show" on WPLJ and the official voice of the Sean Hannity Show.

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 WCIE). 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". [cite news |work=Radio & Records |title=Publisher's Profile: Scott Shannon |first=Erica |last=Farber |url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/Profiles/Pages/Shannon_S.asp |date=2003-04-11] 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.

Shannon left Nashville to take a job as a record promoter with Casablanca Records and while there, recorded an album with Jack (Stack-A-Track) Grochmal, calling themselves "Wildfire" and had a moderate hit with their version of a song called "Here Comes Summer". He 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 then dormant track.

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 would also serve as one of the original VJs on VH1.

In 1989, Shannon left Z100 in what was an emotional farewell to head to Los Angeles to startup Pirate Radio, KQLZ. Interestingly, Brian Wilson was brought in to replace Shannon as "Ross & Wilson" was re-united to head up the Zoo for the next 2 years. Pirate Radio employed a similar Top 40 concept. As the 1990s started, Top 40 radio began to struggle and eventually Pirate Radio would struggle 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.

In 1991 he returned to New York and surfaced 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.

In 2000, FMBQ, a radio trade magazine named Shannon Program Director of the Century.

In 2003 Scott 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, IL.

Scott has also been a successful radio consultant in the 90's for WPLY Philadelphia and WKCI-FM New Haven. In addition to his New York morning show, Scott can be heard across the country on The True Oldies Channel radio network.

He lives in Westchester County, New York with his wife Patricia and his daughter Kathleen.

External links

* [http://www.scottshannon.com/html/begin.html Scott Shannon Bio]
* [http://www.teddwebb.com/showcase/where_are_they_now/scott_shannon.html Where Are They Now?]