Raised in Reno, Shannon moved to Pomona, California in the late 1950s, where he attended Ganesha High School. After graduation, he joined the singing group The Kids Next Door, touring colleges around the US, playing casino and show rooms and performing on variety television shows. He was also a member of The Back Porch Majority and did commercials for Ford Motor Company with The Going Thing.

Shannon signed with ATV Music Group in 1975 and eventually became Executive Director of the company. He co-wrote a number of songs recorded by artists such as Eddy Arnold (Cowboy), Reba McEntire (Small Two Bedroom Starter), Engelbert Humperdinck (Love You Back To Sleep), and Glen Campbell (Why Don't We Just Sleep On It Tonight). During this period he collaborated extensively with Emmy winner Billy Goldenberg, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his lyrics to the 1982 song "Just a Little More Love" from the CBS TV film "The Gift of Life." Shannon and Klee recorded six duet albums and performed at a number of concerts and on television shows in Switzerland from 1979 through 1995.

Mr. Shannon was also Vice President, Music for Carolco Pictures, Inc. from 1988 to 1992, working on motion pictures such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Rambo III, Red Heat, Mountains of the Moon and several television films. After leaving Carolco, he was Music Supervisor on the hit films Basic Instinct and Universal Soldier. He left the entertainment Business and has a MA in Psychology from Newport University.

Harry Shannon is now a counselor in private practice in Studio City, California. Many of his clients are entertainment professionals. He began writing fiction in 2001. His short stories have been published in Cemetery Dance and a number of other magazines.