About the Book
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.
About the Author :
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.
Review :
"A true love of radio and unwavering determination were the fuel that launched Shotgun Tom on a rocket ship ride to the 'bigs'. Add nonstop energy and the heart of an entertainer and you have Shotgun's recipe for success. Better believe it, baby."
- Charlie Van Dyke, legendary Top 40 DJ
"Shotgun Tom isn't just a legendary and phenomenal radio personality. He is the guy next door, the one with the model trains, the one with the cool hat, the one who loves his family - his listeners - his life! With this book, we all get to know the WHOLE story about one of the most enduring voices in radio history. Like my mom used to say, 'It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice'. Shotgun checks off both boxes big time!"
- Lou Simon, VP/Music Programming, SiriusXM Radio
"Shotgun is what a radio DJ should be: entertaining, energy and lots of warmth to project on the air. He has been so consistent over the years. Every day is powerful and entertaining radio, as it should be. He is one of the best jocks I ever have worked with."
- Dan Mason, Former President, CBS Radio, New York
"Shotgun was a dream to work with. He showed up every day with the same enthusiasm. He was always well prepared and contemporary. Shotgun is a big personality, not just a big voice."
- Pat Duffy, Vice President and General Manager, CBS Radio's K-Earth 101 Los Angeles
