Tom Campbell

[radioman148]

>>Sorkin's Synanon period was a bit of a blemish for some of us, as he was obsessed with it at times to the detriment of his airwork. Still, I'd give radio a chance again if he ever re-surfaced.>>

Having not been in California at the time I wasn't too familiar with synanon. Was it a rehab center and what brought it down?

Thanks.

 

[tripton99]

Synanon was a creepy, drug rehab, cult-like org started in and based in California that got into trouble with the IRS for its perceived Tax-free status, if I recall. California has had more than its share of these types of originally self-help, well-meaning organizations that get to full of themselves and become really annoying solicitors of membership, committment and money...not necessarily in that order.

 

[DavidKaye]

Tom Campbell is sadly one of the most memorable voices in Bay Area radio history. Sad because he was not talented in any meaningful way.

I beg to differ. Tom Campbell was not only an excellent DJ, he had/has those qualities most in demand in radio: the ability to bring customers to a sponsor's store. You're forgetting that commercial radio is first a sales medium, second an entertainment medium. If you don't accept that then you shouldn't be in commercial radio.

But TC the DJ was very good, actually, though he did come across a bit smarmy. I remember that in the 70s he was so much in demand he moved from a job at KYA to a high-profile shift at KLOK in SJ. Then after a stint there he moved to KNEW the very next day. He had a way with listeners to make radio seem Important. I remember when he'd have to fly to LA, he'd offer the use of his Corvette as a contest prize while he was gone. (It was actually a good idea since he didn't have to pay for parking at the airport and he could be sure that his car was in good hands while he was gone. After all, what star-struck listener was going to crack up their favorite DJ's car?)

 

[tripton99]

You make my case. Campbell was smarmy and at his best all he could do was squeeze a few words (or a lot of words) into a tiny space between records. That's not brilliant broadcasting. He was like so many no-talents who could only read flip cards and take direction. His ability to loan his car to a listener doesn't put him in any hall of fame.
I know from first-hand listener feedback that his commercials were a tune-out for a large enough part of a radio audience that keeping his annoying delivery out of prime time was a constant challenge. If all a station cared about was the day's billing his crappy spots had the run of the station. A few discriminating programmers could keep the annoyances to a minimum.
Sure he was responsible for some great business for his clients. They wouldn't use him so often if he didn't deliver. But Ron Popiel, Billy Mays and the Sham-Wow guy are successful pitchmen but are annoying as all get out.
If you adore him for his delivery, then I have little respect for your other opinions. And I don't need to be schooled in commercial radio. As a programmer I knew how to balance revenue and programming demands and did it pretty well, though I am sure my affinity for programming and my battles with sales finally cost me my best radio gigs. I slept at night and didn't have the stink of selling-out on my hands.

 

[radioman148]

Synanon was a creepy, drug rehab, cult-like org started in and based in California that got into trouble with the IRS for its perceived Tax-free status, if I recall. California has had more than its share of these types of originally self-help, well-meaning organizations that get to full of themselves and become really annoying solicitors of membership, committment and money...not necessarily in that order.

Thanks for the info on synanon. I always wondered what went on there.
What was Sorkin's role in it?

 

[radioman148]

Tom Campbell is sadly one of the most memorable voices in Bay Area radio history. Sad because he was not talented in any meaningful way.

I beg to differ. Tom Campbell was not only an excellent DJ, he had/has those qualities most in demand in radio: the ability to bring customers to a sponsor's store. You're forgetting that commercial radio is first a sales medium, second an entertainment medium. If you don't accept that then you shouldn't be in commercial radio.

But TC the DJ was very good, actually, though he did come across a bit smarmy. I remember that in the 70s he was so much in demand he moved from a job at KYA to a high-profile shift at KLOK in SJ. Then after a stint there he moved to KNEW the very next day. He had a way with listeners to make radio seem Important. I remember when he'd have to fly to LA, he'd offer the use of his Corvette as a contest prize while he was gone. (It was actually a good idea since he didn't have to pay for parking at the airport and he could be sure that his car was in good hands while he was gone. After all, what star-struck listener was going to crack up their favorite DJ's car?)

Well if nothing else he was a good businessman.

 

[LKellerIII]

Tom Campbell is sadly one of the most memorable voices in Bay Area radio history. Sad because he was not talented in any meaningful way.

I beg to differ. Tom Campbell was not only an excellent DJ, he had/has those qualities most in demand in radio: the ability to bring customers to a sponsor's store. You're forgetting that commercial radio is first a sales medium, second an entertainment medium. If you don't accept that then you shouldn't be in commercial radio.

But TC the DJ was very good, actually, though he did come across a bit smarmy. I remember that in the 70s he was so much in demand he moved from a job at KYA to a high-profile shift at KLOK in SJ. Then after a stint there he moved to KNEW the very next day. He had a way with listeners to make radio seem Important. I remember when he'd have to fly to LA, he'd offer the use of his Corvette as a contest prize while he was gone. (It was actually a good idea since he didn't have to pay for parking at the airport and he could be sure that his car was in good hands while he was gone. After all, what star-struck listener was going to crack up their favorite DJ's car?)

From what I gather, Tom was very adept at connecting with the listeners -especially in public appearances. Many KYA listeners of a certain age (uh...about 60 years old now) have stories about meeting "Tall Tom" and how friendly and accessible he was...though it sounds like he liked to show off his toys - his hot car, mobile phone, etc.

I arrived in the Bay Area when he was on KNEW - the "California Gold" format. For the most part, he was by the book - station call letters, song title and artist - then off into the stop set. He was all about the commercials - in those days when DJs read a lot of commercial copy, he gave it his all, and really made you want to go down and buy that product...even for advertisers he was not the spokesperson for.

He was a huckster perhaps, but a talented one - and one you remember from back in the day - like Jay Brown (Spartan Dodge), Tom LaBrie, etc.

http://www.bayarearadio.org/audio/tom-campbell/index.shtml

 

[LKellerIII]

>>Sorkin's Synanon period was a bit of a blemish for some of us, as he was obsessed with it at times to the detriment of his airwork. Still, I'd give radio a chance again if he ever re-surfaced.>>

Having not been in California at the time I wasn't too familiar with synanon. Was it a rehab center and what brought it down?

Thanks.

Death by 1,000 cuts - mostly self-inflicted - brought Synanon down. What started with good intentions turned into a cult, partially because their leader turned into a megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur. There were criminal activities and violence within the group, feuding factions, a TV news expose, and troubles with the IRS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synanon

 

[radioman148]

>>Sorkin's Synanon period was a bit of a blemish for some of us, as he was obsessed with it at times to the detriment of his airwork. Still, I'd give radio a chance again if he ever re-surfaced.>>

Having not been in California at the time I wasn't too familiar with synanon. Was it a rehab center and what brought it down?

Thanks.

Death by 1,000 cuts - mostly self-inflicted - brought Synanon down. What started with good intentions turned into a cult, partially because their leader turned into a megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur. There were criminal activities and violence within the group, feuding factions, a TV news expose, and troubles with the IRS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synanon

Thanks for the info.

 

[radioman148]

Tom Campbell is sadly one of the most memorable voices in Bay Area radio history. Sad because he was not talented in any meaningful way.

I beg to differ. Tom Campbell was not only an excellent DJ, he had/has those qualities most in demand in radio: the ability to bring customers to a sponsor's store. You're forgetting that commercial radio is first a sales medium, second an entertainment medium. If you don't accept that then you shouldn't be in commercial radio.

But TC the DJ was very good, actually, though he did come across a bit smarmy. I remember that in the 70s he was so much in demand he moved from a job at KYA to a high-profile shift at KLOK in SJ. Then after a stint there he moved to KNEW the very next day. He had a way with listeners to make radio seem Important. I remember when he'd have to fly to LA, he'd offer the use of his Corvette as a contest prize while he was gone. (It was actually a good idea since he didn't have to pay for parking at the airport and he could be sure that his car was in good hands while he was gone. After all, what star-struck listener was going to crack up their favorite DJ's car?)

From what I gather, Tom was very adept at connecting with the listeners -especially in public appearances. Many KYA listeners of a certain age (uh...about 60 years old now) have stories about meeting "Tall Tom" and how friendly and accessible he was...though it sounds like he liked to show off his toys - his hot car, mobile phone, etc.

I arrived in the Bay Area when he was on KNEW - the "California Gold" format. For the most part, he was by the book - station call letters, song title and artist - then off into the stop set. He was all about the commercials - in those days when DJs read a lot of commercial copy, he gave it his all, and really made you want to go down and buy that product...even for advertisers he was not the spokesperson for.

He was a huckster perhaps, but a talented one - and one you remember from back in the day - like Jay Brown (Spartan Dodge), Tom LaBrie, etc.

http://www.bayarearadio.org/audio/tom-campbell/index.shtml

Is Campbell still living in the bay area?

 

[djj]

Is Campbell still living in the bay area?

Last I heard, Tall Tom was residing in the San Diego area...

Perhaps we can check a telephone directory for his Ship-to-Shore
or Mobile phone num...

Wait, never mind - cell phones have replaced 'em...
;D
--jay

 

[radioman148]

Is Campbell still living in the bay area?

Last I heard, Tall Tom was residing in the San Diego area...

Perhaps we can check a telephone directory for his Ship-to-Shore
or Mobile phone num...

Wait, never mind - cell phones have replaced 'em...
;D
--jay

Will he still let us use his Corvette?

 

[DyingMedium]

You're not going to find that many people defending TC - some are jealous and some just plain didn't like him. Tom, at that time, was all about Tom. He is what he is...and he's good at it.

Typical of some people to claim Commercial Radio is a sales medium above all. Hey Genius, you can't sell anything if you don't have entertainment, thus giving people a reason to listen...And I am in Commercial Radio. It always amazes me how Sales and Programming continually fail to co-exist. You can't have one without the other...Even though they keep trying.

 

[radioman148]

You're not going to find that many people defending TC - some are jealous and some just plain didn't like him. Tom, at that time, was all about Tom. He is what he is...and he's good at it.

Typical of some people to claim Commercial Radio is a sales medium above all. Hey Genius, you can't sell anything if you don't have entertainment, thus giving people a reason to listen...And I am in Commercial Radio. It always amazes me how Sales and Programming continually fail to co-exist. You can't have one without the other...Even though they keep trying.

I give him credit for understanding the business end of radio.
When I lived in southern Cal in the late 70s I can still hear those CAL Stereo commercials burned into what's left of my brain

 

[BossRadioDJ]

I remember Campbell's name was in the San Francisco phone book listing all his mobil & ship to shore numbers.
The guy did promote himself well.

As I noted earlier, check out the Tom Campbell Collection on the museum website:

http://www.bayarearadio.org/audio/tom-campbell/

It includes a KYA Music Survey with TC's home and mobile phone numbers ... as well as his secretary's!

Also, check the 1977 San Francisco Yellow Pages under "Campbell, Tom":

http://www.bayarearadio.org/schedules/yellow-pages_1977.shtml

You're not going to find that many people defending TC...

In the business? I've met several people who've worked with him (all the way back to KYA) that stay in touch with him, and they all consider him a great friend. I've had several lengthy phone conversations over the past few years, and he couldn't have been more gracious or generous.

Is Campbell still living in the bay area?

The phone number I have is in a Southern California area code.

I had heard a rumor in recent years that TC was "working in the White House" and I assumed that there was confusion between radio's Tom Campbell and the politician Tom Campbell.

I was having lunch with a couple of radio pals a few months ago when the same subject came up. I quickly interjected that there was confusion between the Two Toms. Just as quickly, I was corrected; one of my lunch partners had recently received a phone call from Tall Tom, but didn't recognize the 202 area code.

When asked where he was calling from, Tom said it was the White House -- he was working as a media consultant there.

 

[DyingMedium]

You're not going to find that many people defending TC...

In the business? I've met several people who've worked with him (all the way back to KYA) that stay in touch with him, and they all consider him a great friend. I've had several lengthy phone conversations over the past few years, and he couldn't have been more gracious or generous.

Several people??? Well, jeez! I guess I stand corrected!

TC is much older now....and like most people, he probably has mellowed a bit. But the discussion isn't about what he's like now. It's about what he was like THEN...And back THEN he was a relentless self-promoter who did what he had to. I don't have a judgement one way or the other on that. But I do know his "style" rubbed a lot of co-workers the wrong way.

 

[DavidKaye]

You make my case. Campbell was smarmy and at his best all he could do was squeeze a few words (or a lot of words) into a tiny space between records. That's not brilliant broadcasting. He was like so many no-talents who could only read flip cards and take direction. His ability to loan his car to a listener doesn't put him in any hall of fame.

My comment was in regard to his making radio seem important. By doing this he helped create the illusion that so many people here embrace. Radio is showbiz after all. And like any showbiz, it's smoke and mirrors and shortcuts and trap doors and things that aren't what they seem at all. Tom Campbell was great at bringing that showman aspect to radio.

I know from first-hand listener feedback that his commercials were a tune-out for a large enough part of a radio audience that keeping his annoying delivery out of prime time was a constant challenge. If all a station cared about was the day's billing his crappy spots had the run of the station. A few discriminating programmers could keep the annoyances to a minimum.

I'll bet that you and your "first-hand listeners" were neither 14-21 year old girls nor the 14-21 year old boys trying to impress the 14-21 year old girls. I listened to his "Action Line" talkshows on KYA, and it was clear that those were his target demo. With them, radio was important and Tom Campbell was a Radio Star. That's what it's about.

Now, I didn't like his style myself, but I wasn't in his target demo, either. I do respect the showman aspect of his style, however, because, as I said, it's about showbiz.

Sure he was responsible for some great business for his clients. They wouldn't use him so often if he didn't deliver.

That's what commercial radio is about.

If you adore him for his delivery, then I have little respect for your other opinions. And I don't need to be schooled in commercial radio. As a programmer I knew how to balance revenue and programming demands and did it pretty well, though I am sure my affinity for programming and my battles with sales finally cost me my best radio gigs. I slept at night and didn't have the stink of selling-out on my hands.

Selling out? You think you're so grand and mighty because you haven't sold out? Tell me, exactly who is the client at a radio station? I'll tell you. It's the advertiser. It's not the listener. This listener is the product being sold to the advertiser. You get more listeners in a desired demo range and you can charge more to the advertiser for delivering them, just like a load of granny smith apples.

If you want to be a programming purist, you belong in non-commercial radio, a whole different animal from commercial radio. But I'd suspect that you have even more of a chip on your shoulder than even the snarkiest pubcaster around. So, what do you do now, sell shoes?

 

[pard]

I worked with Tall Tom at KNEW. He inspired rage, jealousy, admiration, pretty much the whole spectrum. In reading the other posts, I can agree with a lot of it. It was all about Tom and he knew it. He was relentlessly positive and he was a radio guy, who didn't cheap shot people the way morning zoos do. He wasn't Howard Stern. He wasn't Rush. On staff he was hated by some, loved by others (female) and tolerated by others. His act probably peaked in the late '60s. But he brought a lot of business to KNEW in the '70s, so I heard. What a staff. Don Chamberlain followed by Tall Tom Campbell (unless I'm wrong). Could have been Chamberlain followed by Ron Lyons. Long time ago. How could a washed-up DJ talk a major market TV station into running a horrendous local bowling show in the '70s. In the '50s maybe so. Super Bowling was one of the worst local shows I've ever seen. Spare me the memory.

 

[djj]

I worked with Tall Tom at KNEW. He inspired rage, jealousy, admiration, pretty much the whole spectrum. In reading the other posts, I can agree with a lot of it. It was all about Tom and he knew it. He was relentlessly positive and he was a radio guy, who didn't cheap shot people the way morning zoos do. He wasn't Howard Stern. He wasn't Rush. On staff he was hated by some, loved by others (female) and tolerated by others. His act probably peaked in the late '60s. But he brought a lot of business to KNEW in the '70s, so I heard. What a staff. Don Chamberlain followed by Tall Tom Campbell (unless I'm wrong). Could have been Chamberlain followed by Ron Lyons. Long time ago. How could a washed-up DJ talk a major market TV station into running a horrendous local bowling show in the '70s. In the '50s maybe so. Super Bowling was one of the worst local shows I've ever seen. Spare me the memory.

Well spoken, Pard...
Your last four sentences speak volumes - and yet, I almost NEVER missed an
episode of "Super Bowling," go figure (the naive teen I wuz)...

Hard to say which was worse: Campbell's "Super Bowling," or the short-lived
1978 syndicated show (on KBHK 44) "Bowling For Dollars" with....Chick Hearn.
The latter also with lotsa-talk and little action, but at least Hearn's show wuz
broadcast from an actual L.A.-area bowling alley...

Based on all the comments given, and in a weird manner of speaking, we can
(almost) safely say that Tom was a man for all audiences...

Or can we...?


"Relentlessly positive"...can't deny THAT about Tall Tom!
--jay

 

[radioman148]

Good or bad, Tom got himself noticed.