Shadoe Stevens is a world-known icon in radio and radio entertainment
programming with an amazing track record in creating innovative and
commercially successful radio formats.
For 6 years, Shadoe hosted the most widely syndicated
radio show in the world – American Top 40. The
show was aired in 120 countries to an estimated 1 billion listeners
every week.
Also, he has frequently been a guest star on a wide range of
movies and hit series internationally. As a voice-over artist,
he has been the voice of Hollywood Squares, Comic Relief,
the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards, and innumerable
commercials.
Shadoe Stevens was born and raised in Jamestown, North Dakota.
A self-proclaimed radio prodigy, he built a radio station in
his home at the age of 10, and began broadcasting for a mile
in every direction. The audacious whippersnapper - driven by
sheer enthusiasm - went on to create a "viral marketing
campaign" which led to his being hired as host of his own
rock radio show on local commercial station KEYJ. He was 11 years
old and was promoted as "The World's Youngest DJ."
Majoring in Commercial Art and Radio/TV Journalism at the University
of North Dakota and the University of Arizona, Shadoe put himself
through college working in radio at KILO in Grand Forks,
North Dakota, KQWB in Fargo, North Dakota, and KIKX in Tucson,
Arizona. Even then, described as a workaholic and overachiever,
while going to school he worked full-time at the stations and
appeared in university plays on weekends.
As a radio personality hosting an evening program (6:00pm - 9:00pm)
at WRKO in Boston, his program gained some of
the highest ratings in the history of Boston radio (33% of listeners
aged 12 and over). He was then recruited away from Boston by
the number one radio station in the country, KHJ in Los Angeles.
He was enormously successful in Los Angeles. Not only was he
regularly rated as a number one radio personality, he was instrumental
in creating two of the most commercially successful music formats
in radio - both of which have been copied, adapted, and built
upon throughout the world.
As program director at KRLA, he created the first financially
successful Album Oriented format for AM radio. As both
director of programming and drive time on-air personality, he
created a distinctive "attitude". Within 6
months from the introduction of his new programming format, the
station shot to #1.
As program director at KMET-FM, he created the first commercially
successful Album Oriented Rock format for FM radio. Again, as
the PD and on-air personality, he created a consistent musical
approach and "attitude," and again, within 6 months,
the station shot to #1. KMET became the most financially successful
rock station in the country.
As program director for KROQ-FM, he created another new
music format that consisted of only "cutting edge new music." Later
this format evolved into what became known as "Alternative
Rock."
Again, as before, as both PD and on-air personality, the
"attitude" he developed, combined with this new musical "niche," resulted
in astonishing acceptance in a very short time. Within 6 months,
it too, became a number one station.
As a radio personality, he won the Billboard Personality
of the Year Award.
After leaving radio for the worlds of television and film, in
1988, he was offered the position of hosting American Top Forty.
Casey Kasem left the show, and Shadoe became the new host for
the next 6 years. During this time, it became the most successful
and widely syndicated radio show in the world. It was broadcast
in 120 countries to an estimated 1 billion listeners every week.
His voice became one of the most recognizable voices in the world.
MOVIES & TV
Shadoe began his television career as Steve Allen's announcer/side-kick
on the nationally syndicated Steve Allen Show.
He appeared on Midnight Special where he was a correspondent,
giving artist backgrounds and doing celebrity interviews with
major rock groups.
He appeared in the movies: The Kentucky Fried Movie,
TRAXX, Mr. Saturday Night, and the much revered
"Bucket of Blood," for Roger Corman.
He appeared on Hollywood Squares, which for three years was a
top 5 syndicated show. As a regular on the show, he became a
household name. The show continued in successful syndication
for another three years.
He starred in two network series for CBS, the Fred Silverman
production "Loose Cannon," and for four years the Top
20 series "Dave's World" with Harry Anderson, Meshach
Tayler, and DeLane Matthews.
He has frequently been a guest star on a wide range of hit series
including: Beverly Hills 90210, Baywatch, The Larry Sanders
Show, Clueless, Burke's Law, Fast Track, Caroline in the City,
and Sonny Spoon (w/Mario Van Peebles).
As a voice-over artist, he has been the voice of Hollywood
Squares, Comic Relief, the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards,
and innumerable commercials.
He has recently been the voice of Hollywood Squares, doing all
the voice-overs, promos, and advertising.
