1957 graduate EHS
d. 11 Jan 2013, Los Angeles, Ca

Jimmy O’Neill was a Radio/TV personality

(Mini Auto bio) I’m a 72 year old happily retired
radio/tv personality. (Never thought I’d last this long) My Past credits include developing and      hosting America’s first live weekly network rock/pop music series, ”Shindig!”, which aired
on ABC-TV in the mid 60′s. I was 24 and totally blown away by the opportunity of meeting and appearing with the top music artists of the era. (Beatles, Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ricky Nelson, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, The Everly Bros.,The Four Tops, Sam Cooke, Patty Duke, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles , Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong, Mickey Rooney (Jr and Sr) , Dino, Desi and Billy, (Lucille Ball was in the studio audience to support her son, Desi Jr. She refused a front row seat because she “didn’t want to upstage Desi”.)

I started my career at the age of 15 as a disc jockey for KGWA & KCRC in Enid, OK, (my home town), then moved to WKY and KOMA- Oklahoma City, WTAE-Pittsburgh, PA, KRLA, KFWB, and KDAY, in Los Angeles, PBS -TV-Los Angeles, KOB-Albuquerque, NM, WOW & KOIL in Omaha, NE. When I reached 19, I was the number one rated radio DJ in Los Angeles (KRLA), a very exciting landmark in my career.

I launched America’s first “teenage nightclub”, Pandora’s Box on Sunset strip in Hollywood, CA. The House Band included Leon Russell and David Gates (Bread). The Beach boys appeared every weekend. Some surprise drop in stars who I called up on stage included Sal Mineo (playing drums), Herb Alpert (his first appearance with his trumpet), Jackie De Shannon, Paul Peterson (The Donna Reed Show”), Tommy Rettig (Lassie), Rusty Hamer (The Danny Thomas Show) Jimmy Bowen (rockabilly singer who later married Keeley Smith, headed A&R Dept for Reprise Records and produced records for Frank Sinatra.) Jimmy now produces Reba McIntyre. Years later,  He invited me to a recording session he was producing with Frank Sinatra,  What a night, and another highlight of my life, right up there with double dating with Elvis Presley.

Along the way,  I dated Dodie Stevens (“Pink Shoe Laces”),  Shelly Fabares (The Donna Reed Show),  Annette Funicello ,  Ann Margret,  Jackie de Shannon,  Dinah Shore and George Montgomery’s daughter,  Melisa Montgomery,  Roberta Shore (The Virginian), and singing cowboy movie star Jimmy Wakely’s daughter,  Linda.

Throughout my career, I conducted many in depth interviews with celebrities. My seven favorite ones were President Gerald Ford, Senator Ted Kennedy, legendary singer Michael Jackson,  Kathryn Grant (Mrs. Bing Crosby), comedian Bob Hope, best selling author Stephen King, and the loveable Colonel Harland Sanders of KFC fame. (P.S. I’m a Colonel too; Honorary Colonel on the Oklahoma Governor’s staff.)

These days,  I live in West Hollywood with my two Children, James and Katy.  My step-children,  Robin and Megan live in Pasadena and Torrance,  CA respectively and visit often.  I spend most of my time on the computer and watching cable TV news stations.  Love to watch the Conservatives and Liberals fight it out. It’s better than football!! I’m writing a book and hope to complete it soon.