R. J. Adams

Adams began his 30-year radio career as Bob Shannon at KXIV Phoenix, Arizona until going full-time, thanks to the efforts of play-by-play announcer Al McCoy, who got him his first full-time on-air job at KBLU Yuma, Arizona. From there it was on to KUTY Palmdale, California before making the leap to KDWB St. Paul, Minnesota by the end of the year. It wasn't until Shannon arrived in Phoenix that he garnered his first major success at KRUX by rapidly climbing to number one in the market by beating all competitors by twenty plus points, utilizing a variety of crazy characters and outlandish antics such as the invasion of his show by the television rock group, The Monkees. The episode aired as the finale of the group's first season.

Following his departure from Phoenix, Shannon held air shifts at WKBW Buffalo, New York and WKYC Cleveland, Ohio until landing the coveted early evening slot at KXOK St. Louis, Missouri where he again rose to the number one show in the market, beating his nearest rival by over twenty ratings points.

Adams and his wife, Diane, were married for 48 years. His children Jill, Robert, David and Kara. Son, actor Rob Adams, is the owner and acting coach at The Actors Workshop.

Adams was an FAA licensed IFR/Commercial pilot and flew various planes ranging from the Cessna 150 to the Cessna CE 550 corporate jet.

Adams died of a heart attack in Coatesville, Pennsylvania on January 26, 2015. He was 72.