Tom McCray Celebrates 45 Years on the Air
Tom McCray, associate professor of communication and co-host of WECK 1230 AM's Good Morning, Buffalo, was recently surprised with an on-air tribute celebrating his 45th anniversary as a radio personality.
McCray, known on the air as Tom Donahue, has been a member of the Buffalo State faculty since 1980.
Many of McCray’s former students, including local newscasters and producers Dave Cash, Gabe DiMaio, Claudine Ewing, Mylous Hairston, George Richert, and Tom Shuh, paid tribute to him on the air. Tom Calderone, ‘86, president of VH1, called in from London and thanked McCray for his influence as a professor and mentor. “Tom was one of the main reasons I decided to go to Buff State,” Calderone said. Actor/comedian Tom Tran also phoned in to reminisce about his days as McCray’s student and joked about once having a pizza delivered to a class McCray was teaching.
McCray's first radio stint came in 1966—as a volunteer DJ at Buffalo radio station WYSL. It was then that he adopted his on-air alias. He went on to gain fame as a DJ, producer, and newscaster at stations throughout Western New York, including WUSJ, WGR, KISS 98.5, Oldies 104, and WLKK. McCray enjoyed a long stint at WNUC as morning host and program director.
In the 1970s McCray hosted the Original Saturday Night All-Request Oldies Show at WWKB, which became one of the most popular weekend shows in Buffalo radio history and at 50,000 watts was heard up and down the eastern seaboard.
During the tribute, McCray reminisced about growing up listening to Buffalo radio legend Danny Neaverth and eventually getting to work with him on the air, most recently from 2003 to 2008.
“I was fascinated from the first time I listened to the radio,” McCray said. “It’s never failed to excite me. And to be able to teach something that I love is great.”
A renowned voice actor and an accomplished vocalist, McCray closed out the show by singing along with one of his favorite songs, “Mack the Knife,” played by WECK production director Frank Miller. Miller is one of McCray's former students, of course.
McCray, known on the air as Tom Donahue, has been a member of the Buffalo State faculty since 1980.
Many of McCray’s former students, including local newscasters and producers Dave Cash, Gabe DiMaio, Claudine Ewing, Mylous Hairston, George Richert, and Tom Shuh, paid tribute to him on the air. Tom Calderone, ‘86, president of VH1, called in from London and thanked McCray for his influence as a professor and mentor. “Tom was one of the main reasons I decided to go to Buff State,” Calderone said. Actor/comedian Tom Tran also phoned in to reminisce about his days as McCray’s student and joked about once having a pizza delivered to a class McCray was teaching.
McCray's first radio stint came in 1966—as a volunteer DJ at Buffalo radio station WYSL. It was then that he adopted his on-air alias. He went on to gain fame as a DJ, producer, and newscaster at stations throughout Western New York, including WUSJ, WGR, KISS 98.5, Oldies 104, and WLKK. McCray enjoyed a long stint at WNUC as morning host and program director.
In the 1970s McCray hosted the Original Saturday Night All-Request Oldies Show at WWKB, which became one of the most popular weekend shows in Buffalo radio history and at 50,000 watts was heard up and down the eastern seaboard.
During the tribute, McCray reminisced about growing up listening to Buffalo radio legend Danny Neaverth and eventually getting to work with him on the air, most recently from 2003 to 2008.
“I was fascinated from the first time I listened to the radio,” McCray said. “It’s never failed to excite me. And to be able to teach something that I love is great.”
A renowned voice actor and an accomplished vocalist, McCray closed out the show by singing along with one of his favorite songs, “Mack the Knife,” played by WECK production director Frank Miller. Miller is one of McCray's former students, of course.
Media Contact:
Cindy Mantai, College Relations Writer | 7168785580 | mantaicj@buffalostate.edu