After serving in the United States Air Force, Campbell was hired for his first radio job, at KEEL in Shreveport, La., by Al Hart, who would later become a newscaster and radio personality in San Francisco. Campbell subsequently worked in Minneapolis, Minnesota and at WONE in Dayton, Ohio before his move to KYA San Francisco in 1967.
He was known to loan his personal phonograph, record collection and even his car to individual listeners under the caveat that they simply return them, which they apparently did. His home and car phone numbers were publicly listed in the white and yellow pages of most Bay Area phone books, and he would receive calls from listeners at home.
Some of his devoted listeners and regular callers included "The Queen of Darkness" and "The Queen of Lightness" of Oakland, "The Mad Bomber" of Berkeley, and "The Wizard" of San Francisco.
On September 9, 1968, Campbell pulled a notable publicity stunt on KYA, claiming that a listener to another program, the Sunday-night phone-in program known as "The Action Line," had disparaged Campbell's accessibility to his fans. Campbell opened his program that evening with a phone call, during which he booked a one-way ticket to New York.
Later in the program, he noted that he had been offered jobs in both New York and Chicago, and that if his listeners felt the same way about him, he would simply leave San Francisco and take a job elsewhere.
Here's Tom at KYA San Francisco on April 18, 1969. [ LISTEN ] (1:01:27)
The music opens with "Proud Mary" by Solomon Burke, "Chain of Fools" Aretha Franklin, "Born on The Bayou," Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Morning Girl," The Neon Philharmonic, and "Sweet Cherry Wine," Tommy James & The Shondells. Later a cool Jimi Hendrix Experience commercial, and more music from The Guess Who, Spencer David Group, The Flirtations, The Ventures, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, and The Beatles.
Flying Bear Medicine Show Tower Records, $200,000 per week in Contest Cash, Tom makes a "triple-play", K-Y-A 20/20 Triple Play, and the Millon-Dollar Weekend.
More music from Blood, Sweat & Tears, 1910 Fruitgum Company, Crazy Elephant, The Animals and The Who.
Campbell remained at KYA until 1970, then moved to KLOK in San Jose and KNEW in Oakland. Among his best-known advertising clients were Mathew's TV & Stereo ("6400 Mission Street, Top of the hill, Daly City"), Motor Music, Goodies Speed Shops and The Comfort Zone waterbed stores. 
Peppers?Campbell also did weekly broadcasts through the Armed Forces Radio Network and visited troops stationed overseas and emceed concerts at Bay Area venues such as the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos, California (Tom Jones/Engelbert Humperdinck), Sandcastle nightclub in Los Altos (Zola Taylor and the Platters, The Coasters and Clyde McPhatter), and several Oldies Rock and Roll concerts. He also briefly hosted a game show in 1980, Camouflage, which was produced by Chuck Barris and taped in Hollywood.
Some materials contained on the page were originally published by the following: Internet Archive, AFRTS Archive.
