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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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. -
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. -
This week's program focused on the the sixth annual "VetRock" concert being held Friday, August 23rd musical fundraising event at the First United Methodist Church (352 S. Main St.) in Crown Point. The annual outdoor event benefits Disabled American Veterans and features performances by the Northwest Indiana rock/dance bands NAWTY and MR. FUNNYMAN. -
The musical guest for this week's edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges" is SLIM JIM PHANTOM of rockabilly revivalists THE STRAY CATS, who are currently on a limited run U.S. Tour that brings them to the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana on Saturday, August 10th for an 8pm concert. -
This week's Midwest BEAT Blues program is focused on the rockier side of the blues spectrum, spotlighting the blues roots of artists usually viewed as being rock 'n' rollers.
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Each week's program finds producer and host Tom Lounges blendingtogethervarious styles and eras of the blues -- from the old schoollegends, tothe top contemporary players of today, along with some of theup andyoung guns deserving to have their music heard.Audiences willhear theguitar greats, the harp blowers, the piano pounders, thesingers, and theshouters. Some of club-hopping Northwest Indiana andChicagoland'sregional players also get showcased on this program.
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This week's edition of MIDWEST BEAT BLUES opens on an upbeat with a trio of cuts by Duke Tumato & The Power Trio, Little Ed & The Blues Imperials and Little Charlie & The Night Cats.
