The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / "Shotgun" Tom Kelly Of Sirius XM Almost Gave Up On Radio

**Posted by RadioActive** January 1, 2025 10:16 am

He's been famous in Los Angeles as a classic Top 40 DJ, but he may be best known to North Americans as the star of "The 60s on 6" on SiriusXM.

In his new autobiography, "Shotgun" Tom Kelly talks about how he almost gave up on radio because he couldn't pass the FCC license test - a requirement in the U.S. to work in the industry. But he was convinced to keep trying. He also had a 15-year drug abuse problem later in life, before finally becoming sober in 1984.

He's one of the few radio jocks left who's famous in two different countries. This brief story, from Radio World, reviews his story and finds it isn't over yet.

**Posted by mace** January 2, 2025 7:36 am

I have never heard of this FCC License test. Tell me more. Is there a similar test in Canada?

**Posted by RadioActive** January 8, 2025 6:28 pm

mace wrote:
I have never heard of this FCC License test. Tell me more. Is there a similar test in Canada?

This article from Radio World sums it up succinctly. And no, as far as I know, there are no such requirements in Canada.

"While studying for his FCC First Class license — necessary in markets where the jock might also be responsible for keeping an eye on a transmitter and directional array — Tom struggled a bit and was almost ready to abandon the quest for the ticket. Some pep talks from graduates of the Ogden Radio Operational Engineering School in beautiful downtown Burbank, Calif., gave him the motivation to continue studying and pass the FCC test."

“All I Wanna Do Is Play the Hits!”

**Posted by Chrisphen** **Online!** January 8, 2025 6:34 pm

I harped on this a while back on this very forum - if you work in radio (in any vaguely technical capacity) you should have have at least a basic amateur license. Zero harm in such a requirement.