Johnny Shannon

Johnny Shannon had his first 'hands on' experience in radio broadcasting working at KTRM in Beaumont while he was in Junior High School. It was 1958 and his parents had made a special arrangement with the station manager to let Johnny spend his Saturdays at the station, where he would practice reading and recording news and commercial copy in the recording studio. Johnny also spent time in the Control Room with local jock J.P. Richardson, otherwise known as the Big Bopper.

When he was a senior in high school, Johnny got his first real radio job … on the air after school at KMCO in Conroe. After graduation he attended the Elkins Institute of Broadcasting in Dallas where he earned his First Class FCC license.

In the summer of 1965 Johnny landed a weekend air shift at KILT in Houston. But a year later, military obligations brought him to San Antonio for the first time. While in training at Fort Sam Houston, Johnny was hired as a weekend jock at KTSA. He moved around the state a bit after that, but returned to KTSA full-time in 1968. He did a brief stint at KONO then moved away again for a few years.

In 1973 Johnny returned to KONO as afternoon jock and image voice. He would then work as Program Director at KITY and KEEZ…move to Kerrville briefly…then return to KTSA in 1979 for a midday air shift.

Next, Johnny worked in Austin radio for 5 years. But who can ever get San Antonio out of their mind? So back he came … to work first at KSMG … then at KDIL …and at KJ-97. Then Johnny finally hung up his traveling headphones and returned for the fourth time to KTSA… where, for the past 13 years, he worked as Production Director, a news reporter and currently voice talent for the station.

Johnny passed away October 2015.