Goodbye to the Air God Of Morning Radio
About 1986/7 I tuned into a new station here in OKC, And since 96X had earlier gone to a country format it bacame the only station with a Classic Rock/Album Format. Shortly after their sign on they launched their own morning show. The comic side kick was a guy named Greg Moore otherwise known as “The Eggman” I had met Greg on several occasions before his debut. But the star/Host of the show was a guy I had never heard of before a Guy Named Mark Shannon.
I was a fan from the 1st moment I heard this team. And I was a frequent caller to the Shannon and the Eggman Show. In fact one of my clips was used on Mark’s show until he was no longer on that station.
A few years later The Eggman moved on to another town But Mark Shannon remained in his role as the #1 morning show host in the OKC area thru several cohosts. In fact our fearless leader MR wrote a little jingle for Mark.
Ultimately he was betrayed by one of these cohosts, and fired from 107.7.
Mark has gone thru some tough times for several years. and finally landed the afternoon drive spot on 1000 KTOK AM.
Well It sorrows me that Mark Lost his battle with Leukemia on Saturday the 8th. He was at home surrounded by family and died peacefully.
The last time I spoke with Mark about 1.5 years ago the cancer was in remission and he was looking forward to building up the afternoon show to the level where the old morning show was.
The Memorial service will be Thursday 5/13
So from one of the origional fans a heartberaking good bye my old friend
and as I said back in 1989 “Shannon You Are A God” Vaya con dios me amigo.
May 11th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Yeah, it’s sad…… Friday morning on the news they ran a story on Mark with him in the hospital….. He looked well considering and hoped to be able to do a farewell show before his passing…… Saturday morning the news used some of the same footage, but, announced that Mark had died early that morning…..
He was one of the greatest Rock DJ’s there is, not just in Oklahoma City, I would put him up against any other nationally known personalities…… I used to tape his morning show and send them to Jek in Seattle….. I still have some of those tapes as does Jek, I think…. As soon as I figure out how to attach “Shannon on the Radio”, a 30 second promo jingle I wrote for him, I will along with details about it….
The World has lost another one of the “Good Guys” who always “told it like it is”……
May 11th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Here’s the Promo Rock Jingle I wrote for Mark Shannon….. This was recorded in early 1999 in Seattle….. I was living there at the time….. That’s MR (Me!) on vocals and guitar, Jek is on Keyboard Bass and did the recording, editing, and mixing, and that’s Wiley, a good friend of Jek’s and an excellent drummer on drums…..
Enjoy (I Hope)….
Shannon on the Radio
May 12th, 2010 at 4:46 am
Thank you for the kind words about Mark. Those were great times.
May 20th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Hey Eggman, I didn’t know you were aware of our little community. The last i heard you were out west CA way. You were the best team on morning radio that we had in OKC. I definatly place your show on the same level as Stern, and BTLS. I am sorry that I did not get to attend Marks Memorial Service. He will definatly be missed. And face it in this day and age of FCC control could you even do the show you guys did back then.
June 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Hi again – you’re probably right, we couldn’t get away with the stuff we did nowadays, unfortunately. As for me, no, not in CA, I wish I were. I’m presently doing news for a syndicated network based in Memphis, TN. and freelancing comedy bits to a morning show service that has affiliates around the country. Mark’s service was great; I’m sure you’re probably aware of this but the audio is on KTOK’s website, you can listen or download the various speeches, mine included.
best,
Eggman
September 25th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Was talking to my daughter today and for some reason mentioned Shannon and the Eggman. Of course, she didn’t remember them because she was just staring kindergarten. Shannon and Eggman were my daily travel buddies as I came home from dropping off my daughter. I looked forward to the daily banter, insights and observations. Remembering them today I Googled and found out Shannon had passed last year. So sad. The two were my companions and I looked forward to spending time with them each day.
My deepest sympathy.