Shane Gibson

A Buffalo radio legend, Shane Gibson, also known as “The Cosmic Cowboy” and “Shane
Brother Shane,” spent more than 30 years dedicating his life in roles as both a deejay and program director all across the United States.

Gibson began his radio career in 1962 at KFWB in Los Angeles. A year later he moved to Montana working at several stations across the state. In 1967, he traveled cross country to WCOG in Greensboro, NC replacing Jack Armstrong as deejay and program director. Shortly after that, he headed back west to KGA in Spokane, WA and then KMAK in Salt Lake City, UT in 1969. Gibson finally came to Buffalo in 1973, where he came in second place after doing a one show audition at WKBW for the “Great American Talent Hunt.”

Several months later he replaced the winner as the KB night man. He continued to work in Buffalo at WYSL in 1974, then WGR until 1985, leaving as PD. He was brought back by the Rich family as program director again until 1989.

Gibson moved back to Richmond, VA to once again work at WLEE until finally leaving radio and joining the PGA in 2002. He currently serves as a golf instructor in Richmond.

On the night of March 7, 1972 Max Gibson auditioned for the night (6-10 PM) on-air slot on then 50,000 watt WKBW radio. "Shane" was one of several jocks from around the country competing to replace Jackson Armstrong, on Program Director Jeff Kaye's Great American Talent Hunt.

Shane was not the winner of the talent search, instead it went to Warren Miller known as "The Janitor". However, Kaye dumped Miller after a few months and brought back Shane, who stayed for two years before jumping to WYSL and eventually WGR.

From the day he arrived in Buffalo in 1974 for WKBW’s Great American Talent Search wearing pants with SHANE written in studs up and down the legs, to the day he ran for Common Council in Buffalo, Shane always kept the Queen City on its ear.

Shane has received many honors, including being rated the number one jock in America by Billboard Magazine in 1965 while working at KUDI in Great Falls, Montana. Gibson moved back to Richmond, VA to once again work at WLEE until finally leaving radio and joining the PGA in 2002. He later served as a golf instructor in Richmond.

There’s no way to justly describe the Cosmic Cowboy…. Buffalo’s Shane Brother Shane.

“WYSL:1975” (2:53) “WGR:1977” (6:43) “Shane Sings” (3:43)

Shane drops in on the Sandy Beach Show at WBEN on July 31, 2009.
[ LISTEN ] (51:56)

He was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2011.

His on-air presentation was always different than anybody else. He didn't copy anyone else, he was an original. In days where a lot of people had their favorite disc jockey and tried to copy them, he was his own man.

Shane passed away in Richmond, Virginia on February 15, 2021. He was 78.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: All Access, Buffalo Broadcasters.