fbpx
Wikipedia

Tom Donahue (DJ)

Tom "Big Daddy" Donahue (May 21, 1928 – April 28, 1975), was an American rock and roll radio disc jockey, record producer and concert promoter.[1]

Tom "Big Daddy" Donahue
Born
Thomas Coman

(1928-05-21)May 21, 1928
DiedApril 28, 1975(1975-04-28) (aged 46)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)DJ, record producer, concert promoter
Known forFree-form radio

Early life edit

Donahue was born Thomas Francis Coman in South Bend, Indiana, United States.[2] He was the son of Thomas F. Coman[3] and his wife, Mary Jane.[4] Both Mary Jane and Thomas worked in journalism, at the South Bend (Indiana) News-Times.[4] After Thomas Sr. was hired as a reporter by the Associated Press in Detroit, the family relocated to that city in 1934.[5] When the A.P. moved Thomas Sr. to Washington D.C., the family relocated there, around 1938.[6]

Early career edit

Donahue's radio career started in early 1949 on the East Coast of the U.S. at WTIP in Charleston, West Virginia, then affiliated with the Mutual Broadcasting System. He hosted a morning program called "Coffee With Coman."[7] Several years later, he was hired by WIBG in Philadelphia, where he also hosted the morning show. Donahue wrote a weekly column about top-40 music and reviewed some of the new singles.[8] In addition, during the mid-1950s, he had a brief political career, as a leader in the Bristol Township Democratic Party.[9] After nine years with WIBG, he suddenly left the station in early 1960.[10] It was later revealed that Donahue left as the probe of payola at WIBG and other top-40 stations was getting underway.[11] Documents made public during the payola scandal showed that he had been given more than $1,400 by Philadelphia's Universal Record Distributing Co. to play certain records during the period from 1957-1959.[12] Donahue briefly worked at WINX in Maryland,[1] but fall-out from the payola scandal was ongoing; it involved such big names as Alan Freed and Dick Clark, as well as a few East Coast and Midwest DJs. By 1961, Donahue decided to move to San Francisco. He was brought there by Les Crane, former Program Director at WIBG who had been hired to "make a winner out of loser station", KYA. Crane also brought in Peter Tripp from WMGM, New York and "Bobby Mitchell" (real name: Michael Guerra Jr.),[13] from WIBG.

Later career edit

In 1964,[14] while a disc jockey at Top Forty station KYA (now KOIT) in San Francisco, Donahue and Mitchell formed a record label.[1] Autumn Records had subsequent hits with Bobby Freeman and The Mojo Men, and Sly Stone was a staff producer.[1] But Autumn's biggest act was one that Donahue discovered, produced, recorded, and managed, The Beau Brummels,[1] which he later sold to Warner Bros. Records. He also opened a psychedelic nightclub, Mothers, on Broadway in San Francisco, and produced concerts at the Cow Palace, the Oakland Auditorium and Candlestick Park with his partner Mitchell (later known as Bobby Tripp in Los Angeles radio). Together, they produced the last public appearance of The Beatles on August 29, 1966 at Candlestick Park.[1]

Donahue wrote a 1967 Rolling Stone article titled "AM Radio Is Dead and Its Rotting Corpse Is Stinking Up the Airwaves", which also lambasted the Top Forty format. He subsequently took over programming for a foreign-language station KMPX and changed it into what is considered to be America's first alternative "free-form" radio station. The station played album tracks chosen by the DJs on the largely ignored FM band. This one move introduced progressive radio to the U.S., and led to his becoming one of the most influential programmers of this new format. Some media critics even credited him with inventing the FM progressive, or "underground" format.[15]

In 1969, besides his roles as a DJ, station manager, and live show producer, he also managed Leigh Stephens (former lead guitarist of the San Francisco psychedelic rock group Blue Cheer), Micky Waller (a British drummer who played in the Steampacket, Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, The Jeff Beck Group, 1968–69), and Pete Sears in the band Silver Metre, and in 1970 Stoneground. Donahue, and his DJ wife Raechel also took over programming of free-form radio stations KMET and KPPC-FM in Los Angeles. In 1972, he moved to the role of general manager at KSAN, where he encouraged DJs to play music from different eras and genres interspersed with interesting commentary.[1]

A re-created example of Donahue's DJ show can be found on the album The Golden Age Of Underground Radio.

Death edit

Donahue died from a heart attack in 1975, at the age of 46.[1] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 as a non-performer, one of only three disc jockeys to receive that honor.[16] In 2006, Donahue was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame as a member of the first class of broadcasters enshrined.[17]

Donahue was inducted into the Rock Radio Hall of Fame in the "Legends of Rock Radio-Programming" category in 2014 for his work at KSAN and KMPX.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 386. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^ "Rock Radio Heaven: D". Rockradioscrapbook.ca. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  3. ^ "Local and Personal News," Argos (IN) Reflector, May 31, 1928, p. 5.
  4. ^ a b "News-Times Features Mary Jane's Face," Argos (IN) Reflector, May 12, 1927, p. 1.
  5. ^ "Mrs. Thomas F. Coman and Children," Argos (Indiana) Reflector, March 8, 1934, p. 1.
  6. ^ Thomas F. Coman, "A.F.L. Has Spent Over a Million," Hackensack (N.J.) Record, September 2, 1938, p. 3.
  7. ^ "Radio Log for Local Listening," Charleston (WV) Daily Mail, April 3, 1949, p. 19.
  8. ^ Tom Donahue, "Record Review," Bristol (PA) Daily Courier, March 23, 1957, p. 7.
  9. ^ "Politico Stirs Hot Hassle on Ripe Plum," Bristol (PA) Daily Courier, August 7, 1958, p. 9.
  10. ^ "Disc Jockey Quits at WIBG; 3d in 3 Months," Philadelphia Inquirer, January 19, 1960, p. 32.
  11. ^ "Former Disc Jockey Tom Donahue , At 46," Philadelphia Daily News, April 30, 1975, p. 54.
  12. ^ Howard D. Coffin, "T. Donahue, Disc Jockey Here in 50s," Philadelphia Inquirer, April 30, 1975, p. 10-D.
  13. ^ "1260 KYA, San Francisco, Bobby Mitchell,"
  14. ^ Joel Selvin, "S.F. Roots-- An Innocent Period in Rock's History," San Francisco Chronicle, October 17, 1976, p. 34.
  15. ^ Joel Selvin, "A Sudden Explosion of FM Rock," San Francisco Chronicle, June 5, 1983, p. 56.
  16. ^ "Tom Donahue". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  17. ^ . Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2014-05-08.

External links edit

donahue, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, february, 2009, learn, when, remove, this, message, daddy, donahue, 1. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2009 Learn how and when to remove this message Tom Big Daddy Donahue May 21 1928 April 28 1975 was an American rock and roll radio disc jockey record producer and concert promoter 1 Tom Big Daddy DonahueBornThomas Coman 1928 05 21 May 21 1928South Bend IndianaDiedApril 28 1975 1975 04 28 aged 46 NationalityAmericanOccupation s DJ record producer concert promoterKnown forFree form radio Contents 1 Early life 2 Early career 3 Later career 4 Death 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editDonahue was born Thomas Francis Coman in South Bend Indiana United States 2 He was the son of Thomas F Coman 3 and his wife Mary Jane 4 Both Mary Jane and Thomas worked in journalism at the South Bend Indiana News Times 4 After Thomas Sr was hired as a reporter by the Associated Press in Detroit the family relocated to that city in 1934 5 When the A P moved Thomas Sr to Washington D C the family relocated there around 1938 6 Early career editDonahue s radio career started in early 1949 on the East Coast of the U S at WTIP in Charleston West Virginia then affiliated with the Mutual Broadcasting System He hosted a morning program called Coffee With Coman 7 Several years later he was hired by WIBG in Philadelphia where he also hosted the morning show Donahue wrote a weekly column about top 40 music and reviewed some of the new singles 8 In addition during the mid 1950s he had a brief political career as a leader in the Bristol Township Democratic Party 9 After nine years with WIBG he suddenly left the station in early 1960 10 It was later revealed that Donahue left as the probe of payola at WIBG and other top 40 stations was getting underway 11 Documents made public during the payola scandal showed that he had been given more than 1 400 by Philadelphia s Universal Record Distributing Co to play certain records during the period from 1957 1959 12 Donahue briefly worked at WINX in Maryland 1 but fall out from the payola scandal was ongoing it involved such big names as Alan Freed and Dick Clark as well as a few East Coast and Midwest DJs By 1961 Donahue decided to move to San Francisco He was brought there by Les Crane former Program Director at WIBG who had been hired to make a winner out of loser station KYA Crane also brought in Peter Tripp from WMGM New York and Bobby Mitchell real name Michael Guerra Jr 13 from WIBG Later career editIn 1964 14 while a disc jockey at Top Forty station KYA now KOIT in San Francisco Donahue and Mitchell formed a record label 1 Autumn Records had subsequent hits with Bobby Freeman and The Mojo Men and Sly Stone was a staff producer 1 But Autumn s biggest act was one that Donahue discovered produced recorded and managed The Beau Brummels 1 which he later sold to Warner Bros Records He also opened a psychedelic nightclub Mothers on Broadway in San Francisco and produced concerts at the Cow Palace the Oakland Auditorium and Candlestick Park with his partner Mitchell later known as Bobby Tripp in Los Angeles radio Together they produced the last public appearance of The Beatles on August 29 1966 at Candlestick Park 1 Donahue wrote a 1967 Rolling Stone article titled AM Radio Is Dead and Its Rotting Corpse Is Stinking Up the Airwaves which also lambasted the Top Forty format He subsequently took over programming for a foreign language station KMPX and changed it into what is considered to be America s first alternative free form radio station The station played album tracks chosen by the DJs on the largely ignored FM band This one move introduced progressive radio to the U S and led to his becoming one of the most influential programmers of this new format Some media critics even credited him with inventing the FM progressive or underground format 15 In 1969 besides his roles as a DJ station manager and live show producer he also managed Leigh Stephens former lead guitarist of the San Francisco psychedelic rock group Blue Cheer Micky Waller a British drummer who played in the Steampacket Brian Auger Julie Driscoll Brian Auger amp The Trinity The Jeff Beck Group 1968 69 and Pete Sears in the band Silver Metre and in 1970 Stoneground Donahue and his DJ wife Raechel also took over programming of free form radio stations KMET and KPPC FM in Los Angeles In 1972 he moved to the role of general manager at KSAN where he encouraged DJs to play music from different eras and genres interspersed with interesting commentary 1 A re created example of Donahue s DJ show can be found on the album The Golden Age Of Underground Radio Death editDonahue died from a heart attack in 1975 at the age of 46 1 He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 as a non performer one of only three disc jockeys to receive that honor 16 In 2006 Donahue was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame as a member of the first class of broadcasters enshrined 17 Donahue was inducted into the Rock Radio Hall of Fame in the Legends of Rock Radio Programming category in 2014 for his work at KSAN and KMPX References edit a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Concise ed Virgin Books p 386 ISBN 1 85227 745 9 Rock Radio Heaven D Rockradioscrapbook ca Retrieved October 13 2019 Local and Personal News Argos IN Reflector May 31 1928 p 5 a b News Times Features Mary Jane s Face Argos IN Reflector May 12 1927 p 1 Mrs Thomas F Coman and Children Argos Indiana Reflector March 8 1934 p 1 Thomas F Coman A F L Has Spent Over a Million Hackensack N J Record September 2 1938 p 3 Radio Log for Local Listening Charleston WV Daily Mail April 3 1949 p 19 Tom Donahue Record Review Bristol PA Daily Courier March 23 1957 p 7 Politico Stirs Hot Hassle on Ripe Plum Bristol PA Daily Courier August 7 1958 p 9 Disc Jockey Quits at WIBG 3d in 3 Months Philadelphia Inquirer January 19 1960 p 32 Former Disc Jockey Tom Donahue At 46 Philadelphia Daily News April 30 1975 p 54 Howard D Coffin T Donahue Disc Jockey Here in 50s Philadelphia Inquirer April 30 1975 p 10 D 1260 KYA San Francisco Bobby Mitchell Joel Selvin S F Roots An Innocent Period in Rock s History San Francisco Chronicle October 17 1976 p 34 Joel Selvin A Sudden Explosion of FM Rock San Francisco Chronicle June 5 1983 p 56 Tom Donahue Rock amp Roll Hall of Fame Retrieved 2018 06 21 Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame The Class of 2006 Archived from the original on 2014 10 26 Retrieved 2014 05 08 External links edit Tom Donahue Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nbsp jive95 com Web site honoring KSAN FM in its glory days Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tom Donahue DJ amp oldid 1208841385, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.