Tom Lounges
Host of Midwest BeatTom 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.
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Kool & The Gang join Tom Lounges as they discuss new music, changes of their classic sound, and future endeavors on this funky episode of Midwest Beat! -
This week's two hour "MIDWEST BEAT BLUES" program spotlights and showcases some of the greatest blues and blues-rock guitarists of the 20th Century, including a few who have/had birthdays during the month of August.The guitar theme runs throughout, because the show's beginning and ending features a block of songs from Steve Ray Vaughan in memory of the tragic helicopter crash in East Troy, Wisconsin that stole him from the world 33 years ago on August 27, 1990. Among other artists heard on the show are -- Roy Buchanan, B.B. King, Albert Collins, Anthony Gomes, Jeff Healy, Luther Allison, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and other top string-benders.
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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.
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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.
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Both hours in this week's MB BLUES Program a series of 15-20 minute blocks of great live concert recordings, broken up by me jumping in to do some "back sells" and "front sells".ARTISTS featured in the FIRST Hour include: Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Dr. John, Susan Tedeshi, Luther Allison, Lonnie Mack and Jonny Lang, among others.The artists include: Paul Rodgers with The Deborah Bonham Band, Robin Trower, Rare Earth, The Nighthawks, Eric Clapton & Bonnie Bramlett, Wet Willie and Buddy Guy with Jim Peterik. Wrapping up the show are live cuts by Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers, Joe Bonamassa and The Steepwater Band with Pinetop Perkins.This is an energized show -- a fantasy concert booked and produced solely in my blues-lovin' head and then shared with the listeners. Minimal talking on this week's program, in favor of being very music intensive.
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The FIRST HOUR of this week's Midwest BEAT Blues program has a lot of young, new artists and selections of newly released albums by The Nick Moss Band, Anthony Geraci Band, The Mike Bourne Band with Johnny Burgin, Monster Mike Welch, Joanna Connor and others. That half also includes some "old guard" in there as well like B.B. King, Elmore James, Lightnin' Hopkins and Howlin' Wolf.The SECOND HOUR is mostly live and vintage with concert cuts by the likes of Big Mama Thornton, Albert Collins, Big Joe Turner, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, and a couple of deep cut covers by team ups by such classic '60s blues-rockers as Jack Bruce. Mick Taylor and Gary Moore.
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Join Tom Lounges as he speaks with a local musician! Young but talented, Geddy Trezak joins the show!
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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.
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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.
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Listeners of “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges” were introduced to songwriter/musician MAIA SHARP when she made a guest appearance on the program in support of her 2021 album “MERCY RISING,” and the feedback and response to her music was strong.Sharp now returns to chat with show host Tom Lounges about her ninth and newest full length album – “RECKLESS THOUGHTS” – 10-songs written both solo and in collaboration with other gifted fellow song crafters. Two advance singles – “Kind” and “Old Dreams” -- have already been released and building excitement about the full album, due to drop worldwide on August 18th.Born in California’s Central Valley, Sharp moved with her family to Los Angeles when she was five. Following in the footsteps of her Grammy-winning songwriter father, Randy Sharp (Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris etc.), she studied music theory at California State University Northridge, but was originally a saxophonist.Fortunately, she soon embraced her destiny to become a wordsmith and melody maker. Over the last quarter century, Sharp has become a respected song crafter who aside from penning songs for her own recordings, has written for the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Cher, and Art Garfunkel, to name but a few.“Reckless Thoughts” is the latest foray in Sharp’s journey. It features a new batch of reflective and personal songs drawn from life experiences that are relatable to others. Sharp has a real knack of connecting with everyday people, who identify with the emotions, stories and experiences she shares through her music. More: www.maiasharp.com
