Gary D. Sinclair (born 1952), known professionally as Michael Gary "M.G." Kelly and Machine Gun Kelly, is an American actor, disc jockey, and radio personality. In addition to hosting several radio programs over the years, Kelly has held several acting roles as a disc jockey; also, he has served as an offstage announcer on two
game show
A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or Let's Play, demonstrative and are typically directed b ...
s.
His
stage name
A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...
is a reference to
George "Machine Gun" Kelly Machine Gun Kelly most often refers to:
* Machine Gun Kelly (gangster) (1900–1954), American gangster.
* Machine Gun Kelly (musician) (born 1990), American rapper.
Machine Gun Kelly may also refer to:
* ''Machine-Gun Kelly'' (film), 1958 film a ...
, a notorious criminal.
Radio career
Kelly has hosted and produced several radio programs. Several are still airing on stations across the United States and Canada; production and distribution of his current shows went on a brief hiatus in the late 2000s but have since resumed. He worked at
KSTP in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market from 1972 through 1975. During the 1970s and '80s, Kelly enjoyed much success as a radio personality on Los Angeles radio stations
KHJ,
KTNQ
KTNQ (1020 AM) is a radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, with a Spanish News/Talk format. It is owned by TelevisaUnivision. From its original licensing on March 13, 1925 until 1955 it was called KFVD. The station has studios on th ...
,
KOST
KOST (103.5 FM) is a commercial radio station in Los Angeles, California. Owned by iHeartMedia, it broadcasts an AC radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. Its studios are co-located with its sister stati ...
and
KODJ
KODJ (94.1 FM broadcasting, FM) is a commercial radio, commercial radio station in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, Utah. The station airs a classic hits radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The station's radio studio, studios and offi ...
.
Programs produced by Kelly include:
*''Live from the 60s'' (1986–93, reruns from 1993–96 and 2015–present), hosted by "The Real
Don Steele
Don Steele (born Donald Steele Revert; April 1, 1936 – August 5, 1997) was one of the most popular disc jockeys in the United States from the middle of the 1960s until his retirement (for health reasons) in May 1997. He was better known as ...
," a retrospective on the 1960s featuring 1960s music, distributed by
Premiere Networks
Premiere Networks (formerly Premiere Radio Networks, shortened as PRN) is an American media company, a wholly owned subsidiary of iHeartMedia, for which it currently serves as its main original radio content distribution and production arm. It ...
. Reruns as of 2015 distributed by
Compass Media Networks.
*''American Hit List'' (1998–present) similar in format to ''Live from the 60s'' except hosted by Kelly himself. This series featured a broader playlist stretching the 1950s to the 1970s, with a focus on 1964-73. This is the only Kelly program distributed by
Westwood One
Westwood One is an American radio network
There are two types of radio network currently in use around the world: the one-to-many (simplex communication) broadcast network commonly used for public information and mass-media entertainment, and ...
. An updated version, ''Classic Hit List'', has also been offered since the mid-2010s, which includes more 1980s songs and a
classic rock
Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, primar ...
lean; this show is currently distributed by
Compass Media Networks.
*''Back to the 70s'' (1998-2007, 2011–present). First 52 episodes hosted by
Charlie Tuna, airing in reruns through 2007; subsequent revival (ca. 2011) hosted by Kelly himself and distributed by Compass.
*''The Amazing 80s'' (1998–present) hosted by Kelly, marketed as a direct competitor to
Backtrax USA ''Backtrax USA'' is a weekly two-hour radio program hosted by former WHTZ (Z100) disc jockey Kid Kelly that premiered in 1992. The original show highlights hit music from the 1980s. Since 2003, ''Backtrax USA'' has also offered a 1990s version of ...
. Distributed by Compass.
*''Your 90s Rewind'' (2015–present) hosted by Kelly.
*''Top 30 USA'' (1980s), AC Radio top 30 countdown (or as the show implies a CountUP show) hosted by Kelly and distributed by
CBS Radio
CBS Radio was a radio broadcasting company and radio network operator owned by CBS Corporation and founded in 1928, with consolidated radio station groups owned by CBS and Westinghouse Broadcasting/Group W since the 1920s, and Infinity Broadc ...
*''Your Good Time Oldies Magazine'' (1992–95), co-hosted by Kelly and
Charlie Tuna
Acting career
M. G. Kelly's acting career includes a
typecast
In film, television, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character, one or more particular roles, or characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ...
role as DJ "Bebe Jesús" in the 1976 Barbra Streisand version of
''A Star Is Born'' and the role of Father John Voss in the Clint Eastwood movie ''
The Enforcer'',
as well as many television roles, including two ''
CHiPs
''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The serie ...
'' episodes from 1978 and the classic ''
WKRP in Cincinnati
''WKRP in Cincinnati'' is an American sitcom television series about the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio broadcasting, radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson (director), Hugh Wilson ...
'' "Fish Story" episode in 1979. He also provided the voice of the archvillian The Lightning Bug in the 1979 serial spoof ''
J-Men Forever
''J-Men Forever'', originally titled "The Secret World War", is a 1979 comedy film by Philip Proctor and Peter Bergman of the Firesign Theatre. The film is a pastiche using film clips from Republic serials, re-dubbed with comic dialog to tell a ...
''.
In addition to acting, Kelly served a short stint as announcer on the game show ''
The Pop 'N Rocker Game
''The Pop 'N Rocker Game'' is an American game show and variety show produced by Ron Greenberg Productions and Alan Landsburg Productions. The program premiered on September 17, 1983, and aired through September 1984 and combined musical trivia wi ...
'', hosted by
Jon Bauman
Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (born September 14, 1947) is an American singer, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na, and game show host. Bauman's Sha Na Na character, "Bowzer", was a greaser in a muscle shirt.
Biography and career
Bauman was ...
. In late 1988, he took over as the announcer on ''
Wheel of Fortune The Wheel of Fortune or ''Rota Fortunae'' has been a concept and metaphor since ancient times referring to the capricious nature of Fate. Wheel of Fortune may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Art
* ''The Wheel of Fortune'' (Burne-Jo ...
'' following the death of former announcer
Jack Clark in mid-1988. Kelly announced both the daytime network version of the show and the nighttime, syndicated version hosted by
Pat Sajak
Pat Sajak ( , born Patrick Leonard ; born October 26, 1946) is an American television personality and game show host. He is best known as the host of the American television game show ''Wheel of Fortune'', a position he has held since 1981. Fo ...
until March 1989. Kelly was succeeded by
Charlie O'Donnell
Charles John O'Donnell (August 12, 1932 – November 1, 2010) was an American radio and television announcer, primarily known for his work on game shows. Among them, he was best known for ''Wheel of Fortune'', where he worked from 1975 to 1980, a ...
, the original announcer of the daytime version, who remained with the show until his death in 2010.
Partial filmography
* 1976 ''
A Star Is Born'' as Bebe Jesus
* 1976 ''
The Enforcer'' as Father John
* 1978 ''
The Buddy Holly Story
''The Buddy Holly Story'' is a 1978 American biographical film which tells the life and career of rock and roll musician Buddy Holly. It features an Academy Award-winning musical score, adapted by Joe Renzetti and Oscar-nominated lead performan ...
'' as Avalon M.C.
* 1978 ''
The Fifth Floor
''The Fifth Floor'' is a 1978 American film about a sane woman who gets sent to an asylum. It stars Dianne Hull, Bo Hopkins and Mel Ferrer.
Plot
The film focuses on Kelly McIntyre, a disco dancer played by Dianne Hull who through no fault of her ...
'' as Hal
* 1979 ''
Roller Boogie
''Roller Boogie'' is a 1979 American romantic musical drama film starring Linda Blair and Jim Bray, a former competitive artistic skater from California. The film also stars Beverly Garland, Mark Goddard and Kimberly Beck, and is directed by M ...
'' as D.J.
* 1979 ''
J-Men Forever
''J-Men Forever'', originally titled "The Secret World War", is a 1979 comedy film by Philip Proctor and Peter Bergman of the Firesign Theatre. The film is a pastiche using film clips from Republic serials, re-dubbed with comic dialog to tell a ...
'' as Lightning Bug (voice)
* 1984 ''
Voyage of the Rock Aliens
''Voyage of the Rock Aliens'' is a 1984 film directed by James Fargo and starring Pia Zadora and Craig Sheffer.
Plot
A guitar-shaped spaceship and Robot 1359 (voiced by Peter Cullen), search the universe for the source of rock and roll music. ...
'' as Radio DJ
* 1984 ''
Night Patrol
Night (also described as night time, unconventionally spelled as "nite") is the period of ambient darkness from sunset to sunrise during each 24-hour day, when the Sun is below the horizon. The exact time when night begins and ends depends o ...
'' as Hotel Manager
* 1989 ''
Body Slam
Professional wrestling throws are the application of professional wrestling techniques that involve lifting the opponent up and throwing or slamming them down. They are sometimes also called "power" maneuvers, as they are meant to emphasize a wrest ...
'' as T.V. Interviewer
* 1989 ''
Lobster Man from Mars'' as Big Dick Strange
* 1989 ''
UHF'' as Promo Announcer (voice)
References
External links
Official M. G. Kelly productions website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, M. G.
1952 births
Living people
American male film actors
Game show announcers
People from Ada, Oklahoma
Radio personalities from Oklahoma