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Tom Lounges

Host of Midwest Beat

Tom Lounges has been a region radio personality and a music journalist since 1979.  For the last 35-years, he has been reporting on entertainment as a weekly columnist and feature writer for The Times newspaper.  He was also publisher and editor of the monthly tri-state entertainment magazine ("Midwest BEAT Magazine") for over two decades, he has written hundreds of features for numerous national glossy magazines over the decades, and he wrote "Liner Notes" for over a dozen albums release by Sony Records.

After many years hosting his own shows on commercial radio, Tom switched to public radio 4 years ago, claiming he was enticed by the creative freedom the format offers.   Today, Lounges is heard hosting TWO weekly interview programs on 89.1FM - LAKESHORE PUBLIC RADIO of NORTHWEST INDIANA.

Those Lakeshore Public Radio programs are the celebrity interview/music program “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges” (Tuesdays at 7pm) and an interview program focused on authors, filmmakers and others in creative arts on the program, “A Look at the Arts with Tom Lounges” (Fridays at 1pm).

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 40 years in the music an media industry.

He is president and owner of TOM LOUNGES ENTERTAINMENT, LLC which produces entertainment events, books musical talent and does consultation.  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 board of the Lake County Public Library Foundation and heads up the fundraising projects for The Humane Society of Northwest Indiana

  • MASSASAUGA is a NW Indiana-based rock power trio of consisting of guitarist/co-vocalist Eric Plath (16), drummer/co-vocalist Katie Plath (14), and bassist Matthew Plath (11) who spent the month in Covid-19 shutdown putting the band together, honing their playing skills and writing songs. Massasauga's roots run deep exploring hard rock, classic rock, old school punk, and metal! As siblings, Massasauga shares their love of playing their high energy originals in addition to a few covers from a few of their influences.For tonight's appearance on "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges", the Lakeshore Public Media listeners will be treated to a couple of the songs from the CD, as well as a pair of original songs performed in a stripped down acoustic form. Tonight's program with ROCK with youthful vim and vigor... to be sure!
  • My guest this evening is Northwest Indiana singer/songwriter T.J. AUBUCHON whose debut CD -- "EDGE OF NIGHT" landed at #8 on my 2022 annual listing -- Tom's Top 10 Regional Albums of the Year -- published in The Northwest Indiana Times daily newspaper.
  • Join Tom as he talks with author and Chicago media journalist/broadcaster Rick Kaempfer about his new book "THE LOOP FILES" (Eckhartz Books), detailing the ups, downs, highs, lows of classic Chicago Radio Station -- THE LOOP -- through the words of the colorful characters who were there to create it's history as one of rock radio's most influential stations.
  • Each week's program finds producer and host Tom Lounges blending together various styles and eras of the blues -- from the old school legends, to the top contemporary players of today, along with some of the up and young guns deserving to have their music heard. Audiences will hear the guitar greats, the harp blowers, the piano pounders, the singers, and the shouters. Some of club-hopping Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland's regional players also get showcased on this program.
  • Each week's program finds producer and host Tom Lounges blending together various styles and eras of the blues -- from the old school legends, to the top contemporary players of today, along with some of the up and young guns deserving to have their music heard. Audiences will hear the guitar greats, the harp blowers, the piano pounders, the singers, and the shouters. Some of club-hopping Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland's regional players also get showcased on this program.
  • Each week's program finds producer and host Tom Lounges blending together various styles and eras of the blues -- from the old school legends, to the top contemporary players of today, along with some of the up and young guns deserving to have their music heard. Audiences will hear the guitar greats, the harp blowers, the piano pounders, the singers, and the shouters. Some of club-hopping Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland's regional players also get showcased on this program
  • Each week's program finds producer and host Tom Lounges blending together various styles and eras of the blues -- from the old school legends, to the top contemporary players of today, along with some of the up and young guns deserving to have their music heard. Audiences will hear the guitar greats, the harp blowers, the piano pounders, the singers, and the shouters. Some of club-hopping Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland's regional players also get showcased on this program
  • Each week's program finds producer and host Tom Lounges blending together various styles and eras of the blues -- from the old school legends, to the top contemporary players of today, along with some of the up and young guns deserving to have their music heard. Audiences will hear the guitar greats, the harp blowers, the piano pounders, the singers, and the shouters. Some of club-hopping Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland's regional players also get showcased on this program
  • Each week's program finds producer and host Tom Lounges blending together various styles and eras of the blues -- from the old school legends, to the top contemporary players of today, along with some of the up and young guns deserving to have their music heard. Audiences will hear the guitar greats, the harp blowers, the piano pounders, the singers, and the shouters. Some of club-hopping Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland's regional players also get showcased on this program.
  • My guest this evening is California-based blues woman VAL STARR of VAL STARR & THE BLUES ROCKET .Val Starr & the Blues Rocket have shared the stage with the likes of Albert Cummings, Rick Estrin, Coco Montoya, Tommy Castro, EG Kight, EC Scott, Laurie Morvan, and Chris Cain, to name but a few.As a longtime fan of this talented singer/songwriter and performer's West Coast Blues sound, show host Tom Lounges has featured Starr on his radio shows in the past, and is thrilled to be offered the honor of debuting some of the brand new songs from Val's forthcoming album, which will drop in April of 2024.