Tom Lounges
Host of Midwest BeatTom Lounges has been a radio personality and music journalist since 1979. For the last 43 years, Tom has been reporting on entertainment as a weekly music columnist and feature writer for The Times newspaper.
He was also the owner, publisher and editor of the monthly tri-state entertainment magazine ("Midwest BEAT Magazine") for over two decades, and has written hundreds of celebrity features for numerous national glossy magazines over the decades, including "Scholastic Magazine," "Goldmine," "Relix," "Song Hits," "Word Up!" and others.
Tom wrote "Liner Notes" for over a dozen national albums released via Sony Special Products, including vinyl anthology collections by such iconic artists as Johnny Winter, Fabian, Frankie Avalon, Fevertree, The Dixie Cups, The Shirelles, and The Shangra-las.
Tom has hosted and produced his own shows on various commercial radio stations over the years, but switched to public radio in 2012, after being enticed by the creative freedom the NPR format offers to content providers. He had previously worked in public broadcasting as on-camera host and content creator for the early 1990s PBS-TV program, "In Your Mind's Eye," produced by Lakeshore Public Television (WYIN).
Today, Lounges currently hosts and produces two weekly programs on 89.1FM - LAKESHORE PUBLIC MEDIA. Those are the celebrity interview/music program “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges” (Tuesdays 7-8pm) and the all blues music program, “Midwest BEAT Blues” (Fridays 7-9pm). Listeners can contact Tom directly at: beatboss@aol.com
Tom has earned special recognition awards for his work in the entertainment field and has rubbed elbows with a virtual "Who's Who" of major entertainment figures and top stars over his nearly 50 years in the music and media industry.
He is the president and owner of Tom Lounges Entertainment, LLC which produces entertainment events, books musical talent, and does consultation. A veteran record retailer in Chicagoland since the 1970s, Tom currently is the owner of Tom Lounges Record Bin in downtown Hobart.
Tom has been a guest speaker on music, entertainment, and journalism at various schools and colleges in northwest Indiana and the Chicago areas.
Lounges currently sits on the boards of both the Lake County Public Library Foundation and The Spot Studio Music Foundation, along with heading up the fundraising projects for The Humane Society of Northwest Indiana.
More: http://www.tomlounges.com / https://www.facebook.com/tlounges
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Classic blues-rock group FOGHAT has been recording and performing since 1971 when the founding members broke off from British Blues band SAVOY BROWN. This week's guest is Foghat's founding member and drummer ROGER EARL. Foghat has released 17 studio albums and multiple live albums over the decades. The band's latest being -- 2023's "SONIC MOJO" -- which debuted at the #1 spot on the Billboard Blues Chart."Midwest BEAT" host and producer Tom Lounges has known Foghat since the mid-1990s when he first interviewed the band to promote their "Return of The Boogie Men" reunion album/tour. Tom has done many interviews with various past and present members over the years. LIVE PERFORMANCE: FOGHAT performs on Saturday, May 23rd with special guest Nazareth at The Hard Rock Live auditorium found inside Hard Rock Casino Northwest Indiana in Gary, Indiana. -
This edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges" focuses on the live performance revue "THE MUSIC OF TINA TURNER" a symphonic telling of the story of Rock Queen Tina Turner that was created by Northwest Indiana native JOHN SUCH, the CEO and namesake of John Such Artists Entertainment in New York City.A one night only performance of "The Music of Tina Turner" is being presented on FRIDAY, MAY 22nd by The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra (NISO) at The Hard Rock Live entertainment venue at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary, Indiana. It stars LaKISHA JONES, NOVA Y. PAYTON and ARMANDO IMAGINES.This week's edition of the "Midwest BEAT" features show host Tom Lounges interviewing "American Idol" (2007) finalist LaKISHA JONES, along with JOHN SUCH and NISO Marketing Director TAMMIE MILLER, while including various recordings by the real Tina Turner and songs from Jones' own CD, "So Glad I'm Me."The live stage production of "The Music of Tina Turner" includes standard rock band accompaniment (bass, drums, guitar) along with full orchestra backing, which brings the music of Tina Turner to life in a big, big way as it pays tribute to the eight-time GRAMMY-winner and Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductee. -
This program was originally broadcast on May 1, 2026. Much of the playlist for this week's program was inspired by artists that show host and producer Tom Lounges had caught in concert, hung out with, or spoken to in recent weeks.Among those artists were: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD, DEVON ALLMAN, RONNIE BAKER BROOKS, WAYNE BAKER BROOKS, JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR KEITH SCOTT, ROGER EARL of Foghat, CARMINE APPICE of Cactus, and PAUL RODGERS of Bad Company.Those who are listed above are some of the artists heard on this edition of the program.One song in particular is being played for the first time on this show, is a newly unearthed lost classic from 2011 by Paul Rodgers. "I know the listeners will love it," says Lounges. "Especially once they hear the story behind the song's release."Tune in for a fun and insightful new block of great blues! -
After decades away from the road, the three original founders of Canadian rock band TRIUMPH are back together and hitting the road for a multi-week North American Tour that is dubbed "THE ROCK 'N' ROLL MACHINE RE-LOADED 2026 TOUR" which brings TRIUMPH to Chicagoland for an 8pm performance on May 13th at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. The tour's name is borrowed from the group's hit song"Rock 'N' Roll Machine."It this edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges", show host and producer Tom Lounges reconnects with the band's founding members -- guitarist/vocalist RIK EMMETT, bassist MIKE LEVINE and drummer/vocalist GIL MOORE -- whom Tom first met and interviewed back in 1980 at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom during Triumph's "Just A Game" debut U.S. Tour.A handful of TRIUMPH hits and fan faves are played during this week's program. This extended "Archive Only" edit of the broadcast show includes an additional 15 extra minutes added to the broadcast edit heard on air. -
Blues guitarist KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD is my special guest on this edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges". The last time Kenny was on this program was in 2022 when he released and toured behind the "TROUBLE IS...25th ANNIVERSARY" album, a re-recording and re-interpretation of his 1997 landmark album.Kenny is now doing a similar project and has just re-recorded his 1996 debut album -- "LEDBETTER HEIGHTS" -- which originally landed at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart the first week of its release, which put the then 18-year-old Shepherd on the international music radar.The new "LEDBETTER HEIGHTS The 30th Anniversary" album will be released worldwide in early May, but Kenny and his band are already touring in support of it. They perform an 8pm concert on FRIDAY, APRIL 24th at the HARD ROCK CASINO NORTHERN INDIANA.In addition to talking about the new album and tour, I'll talk about Kenny's 2025 GRAMMY-nominated "YOUNG FASHIONED WAYS" recorded with legendary bluesman BOBBY RUSH. I'll also talk with Kenny about a few of his other future projects currently being planned.Two newly recorded tracks will be debuted here, along with a couple of the original 1996 tracks, I'll include a tune from the Bobby Rush sessions, and a song pairing him with Bonamassa from the "B.B. King Blues Summit 100" box set. -
MIDWEST BEAT BLUES with Tom LoungesOriginally Broadcast on APRIL 17, 2026This edition of "MIDWEST BEAT BLUES" features a mix of vintage blues artists including JIMMY JOHNSON, JIMMY REED, OTIS RUSH, MICHAEL BLOOMFIELD, LUTHER ALLISON and the three Kings of the Blues.There’s newer music by the likes of COCO MONTOYA, BRIGITTE PURDY, and HERE COME THE MUMMIES, along with a handful of great Region-based blues cats like DEREK CARUSO & DONALD KINSEY, KEITH SCOTT, GARY PRIMICH and BRIAN GALLAMORE. Tune in and turn it up! -
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This week’s MIDWEST BEAT BLUES program offers listeners a killer two hours of great blues by legends and some up and coming talents.The show begins with a string of great LIVE CONCERT recordings spanning styles and generations of various artists. Among them are: JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR, ALBERT KING, MARTY “BIG DOG” MERCER, ALBERT COLLINS, MUDDY WATERS, GARY MOORE, and others.The second hour of the program features several new release cuts that only in the last two months have landed on Lounges’ desk and hit his radar. Among those playing these fresh tunes are: GABE STILLMAN, DUKE ROBILARD & HIS ALL-STAR BAND, JOE BONAMASSA, BILLY THOMPSON and GARRET T. WILLIE. -
This edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges" was originally broadcast on April 7, 2026.Guests on this edition were M&R RUSH band members MARTY MARDIROSIAN and JOHN McFARLAND who discussed the band's career, music, and the new book -- "Reach for The Stars: The M&R RUSH Story" -- by author James W. Arvia.The book chronicles the chemistry, the legacy, and the wealth of original music that this South Side of Chicago band created together over the decades.The author captures more than fifty years of music, friendship, and the unmistakable Chicago spirit that shaped one of the Midwest’s most resilient independent rock acts. It's a quick read and includes dozens of classic and timeless photos. A public release event scheduled in early May was discussed and it was revealed a portion of each book sold will benefit breast cancer research. More: www.mandrrush.com. -
Gary Indiana’s Own R&B/Soul Icon DENIECE WILLIAMS guests on this edition of "MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges" and talks about her NWI Roots, her incredible career, working with some of music's biggest stars and studio producers, and returning home to Gary to co-headline the "VALENTINE’S DAY SOUL JAM" @ THE HARD ROCK CAFÉ on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
