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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Country singer-songwriter Whey Jennings’ story is a long and varied one, that runs from singing on stage as a child with his famous grandparents -- Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter -- to falling victim to addiction. -
On this edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges," the musical guest was international rocker and actor, Michael Des Barres, best known to rock fans as the lead singer and co-founder of the British rock group, SILVERHEAD, and later as the leader of the American bands DETECTIVE (1970s) and the superstar project CHEQUERED PAST (1980s). -
A very special concert billed as -- "ROCK, ROLL & REMEMBER with JADE 50s" -- happens on September 20 at HOBART ART THEATER that will transport music fans back to a simpler and more innocent time. -
New Orleans blues and blues-jazz classics spins in honor and memory of Northwest Indiana broadcaster Steve Zana, who recently passed away. -
Kiely is a lady of hearty Midwestern stock. She hails from the working class community of Hammond, and later moved to Crown Point, but now calls Nashville, Tennessee her home. -
Northwest Indiana-based modern rock band NOMAD PLANETS -- has made a name for themselves over the years throughout the Chicagoland area -- with their well produced, well-written original music and rock solid live performances. -
This week's episode of "MIDWEST BEAT BLUES" is a broad array of styles and artists.The playlist includes brand new tracks from the latest releases.
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The FIRST HOUR features the event and playing cuts from each of the main stage artists --- Allman Brothers (a tribute band opens the fest), JOANNA CONNOR and THE STEEPWATER BAND. The SECOND HOUR is my TORONZO CANNON interview with several of the songs from his brand new summer 2024 album, "Shut Up & Play." -
The first half of this week's program features tasty team-ups by various artists. The second hour is a mish-mash of various blues artists/cuts with no theme, rhyme nor reason. Just some great songs plucked out of the "Midwest BEAT Blues" library.
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Chicago singer/songwriter/guitarist MARTY McCORMACK -- one half of the dynamic duo that makes up the Celtic/Americana musical group Switchback -- joined Tom Lounges live in the studio to talk about their new highly topical indie rock album release "RED OR BLUE" and what's up in the world of Switchback.
