In the 1950s he was popular in the Detroit area on WJBK-AM both as a DJ, and for his on-air comic characterizations; he became a local celebrity. In the early 1950s Clay, using the pseudonym "Guy King," worked for WWOL-AM/FM in Buffalo, New York; on July 3, 1955, he conducted a stunt in which he played "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets repeatedly from atop a billboard in Buffalo's Shelton Square.
The incident led to his firing and arrest (Danny Neaverth would later repeat Clay's stunt but would not suffer the same consequences).In the mid-1950s he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio and was equally popular.
This classic aircheck features hour number one of the very first Tom Clay program at CKLW on September 2, 1963. [ LISTEN ] (1:07:35)
He was caught up in the payola scandal of the late 1950s, and admitted to having accepted thousands of dollars for playing certain records.
After being fired from WJBK, Clay worked at the short-lived Detroit Top 40 station WQTE, only to be fired again when the station changed format to easy listening music in 1961. After moving to Los Angeles to work at KDAY, Clay returned to the Detroit area and found work at CKLW in neighboring Windsor, Ontario, at the time one of the foremost Top 40 AM stations in N. America.
According to the book Rockin' Down the Dial, a history of Detroit Top 40 radio of the 1950s and 1960s by David Carson, Clay became friendly with Marilyn Monroe during his time in Los Angeles in the early 1960s. Clay's daughter, Kimberly, told Carson that her father never revealed much about his friendship with Monroe, but would only say that she seemed very lonely.
[ PLAY ]In 1964, the widely-popular Clay used to recite his composition, “What Ever Happened To,” occasionally, during his radio shows on CKLW radio. Adapted from the 1962 motion picture soundtrack album, Mondo Cane, this was the background instrumental music, track entitled, “More,” which Tom selected to play while he read his self-authored piece to his large radio following in Detroit.
TOM CLAY’S LAST CKLW SHOW
While this 1964 CKLW Tom Clay aircheck is less than stellar in its audio presentation, this aircheck is historic in content as it was recorded June 18 and June 19, 1964, the 19th having been Tom Clay’s last show heard on CKLW radio in Detroit.
In this aircheck, Tom Clay talks about the Beatles, reads letters from CKLW listeners, mentions Terry Knight (formerly of WJBK and his eventual replacement at CKLW) and talks about his tribute to JFK, commenting on his recording of “Six White Horses.”
Also in this feature today Tom Clay is heard firing off a few words towards a Detroit newspaper daily as well.
(As the daily implied in print) he was accused having played a role during the payola scandal earlier in his Detroit radio career, while a DJ at WJBK in the late-1950s.
Clay’s last day on CKLW was June 19, 1964. [ LISTEN ] (44:58)
Since over 80,000 fans responded, Clay was able to live comfortably for a time on the cash that appeared in his personal P.O. Box.
Tom was at WWWW on Thursday, December 24, 1970. [ LISTEN ] (54:13)
The W4 Christmas programming continues into Tom's 5-hour shift. The show kicks off with an appeal from Tom to single men listeners to help the station deliver holiday packages to area needy families.
Tom is at WHFI, aircheck date (unknown): 1969 or 1970. [ LISTEN ] (32:17)
Clay’s Detroit radio resume lists the legendary jock having been on WJBK, WQTE, CKLW and WWWW. But we cannot find any indication he was ever on WHFI.
So, was he? We can only speculate, as this WHFI aircheck bears supporting, possibly he was there for a very brief period of time (days or weeks?). Either sometime late-1969 or earlier-1970. By late summer, 1970, Tom was on WWWW-FM.
"What the World Needs Now Is Love, Abraham, Martin and John."
c.1971
Dave Shafer told David Carson in Rockin' Down the Dial that Clay skipped town in the wake of the Beatles Booster fiasco, leading to Shafer's being briefly jailed on charges of international fraud. Clay eventually returned to work at other Detroit area radio stations, including WWWW-FM, and also worked at WCBS-FM in New York. In 1984, he played pop standards at KPRZ, Los Angeles.c.1971Clay is possibly best remembered for his single on Motown's MoWest label "What the World Needs Now Is Love"/"Abraham, Martin and John", a compilation of two popular records. Featured throughout are interviews and speeches of Jack and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King emphasizing tolerance and civil rights. The record rose to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1971, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.
A follow-up album with the single, "Whatever Happened To Love" flopped, and Clay found himself unemployed. Both songs were featured on the MoWest album What The World Needs Now (1971).
A follow-up album with the single, "Whatever Happened To Love" flopped, and Clay found himself unemployed. Both songs were featured on the MoWest album What The World Needs Now (1971).
Tom's WNIC (audition tape) August 14, 1976. When Clay submitted this recording to WNIC, he was still at KRLA in Los Angeles. He was 45 years old. [ LISTEN ] (26:43)
Clay finished his career doing voiceover work. He died of stomach and lung cancer, in Los Angeles, California in 1995. He was 66.
Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Motor City Radio Flashbacks
