Drake Magazine / Radio Legend
Tom Joyner
Also known as "The Fly Jock"
Verified profile information for Drake Magazine Radio Legends.
- City / market
- National / United States
- Key radio markets
- Dallas, Texas · Chicago, Illinois
- Early career
- WRMA — Montgomery, Alabama
- Radio station(s)
- The Tom Joyner Morning Show
- Years active / era
- Radio career spanning the 1970s–2019
- Awards / recognition
- Radio Hall of Fame — 1998 · NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame — 2000 · NAB Marconi Radio Award — 2004 · International Civil Rights Walk of Fame — 2008 · BET Humanitarian Award — 2015
About
Tom Joyner is a pioneering American radio personality, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show became one of the most recognizable programs in Black radio. A graduate of Tuskegee Institute, Joyner began his broadcasting career reading news at WRMA in Montgomery, Alabama. His career later took him through radio markets including Memphis, St. Louis, Dallas and Chicago.
Career highlights
Began his broadcasting career at WRMA in Montgomery, Alabama · Worked at stations in Memphis, St. Louis, Dallas and Chicago · In 1985, simultaneously hosted a morning program in Dallas and an afternoon program in Chicago · Flew between Dallas and Chicago to perform both shows, earning the nickname "The Fly Jock" · Launched the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show in January 1994 · The Tom Joyner Morning Show expanded to radio markets throughout the United States · Founded Reach Media · Founded BlackAmericaWeb.com · Established the Tom Joyner Foundation to support students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities · Retired from The Tom Joyner Morning Show in 2019
Notable shows / programs
The Tom Joyner Morning Show · Morning radio at KKDA in Dallas · Afternoon radio at WGCI in Chicago
Impact on Carolina radio
Tom Joyner became one of the most prominent figures in nationally syndicated Black radio. The Tom Joyner Morning Show combined music, entertainment, comedy, interviews and conversations about issues affecting Black communities across the United States. His influence also extended beyond broadcasting through education, philanthropy, BlackAmericaWeb.com and the Tom Joyner Foundation.
Social / official links
No official links supplied.