By Ava Simone Collier
Ohhh, Ohhh, Ohhh…it’s the Tom Joyner Morning Show! How familiar is that! We all know the jingle and we all know the “Fly Jock.” I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing “The Hardest Working Man in Radio,” Tom Joyner! Ever wonder how he got that name and why he’s called the “Fly Jock?” Well keep reading and see what Tom shared with me during our interview.
T2T: Tom, you still carry the title of the “Fly Jock.” For those who don’t know, tell us how you got that name. No doubt it also led to your other name, “The Hardest Working Man in Radio.
TJ: I was the morning man in Dallas and the afternoon man in Chicago for eight years…before syndication and satellite deals like we have today that could have made it a lot easier. But instead, I finished my morning gig, rushed to the airport, boarded a flight, landed in Chicago, rushed to the studio in time to do my afternoon radio show, did it, and flew home to Dallas, five days a week.
T2T: We love what you do. Please tell us if doing it still makes you happy and glad to get up in the morning and why? And how terrific are the people you work with?
TJ: What I do makes me very happy. I get to have fun and make a difference. I can’t think of a better combination. From the top to the bottom, I work with people I love, respect and trust. As I’ve gone from Tom Joyner the man to Tom Joyner the brand, I have had to depend on more and more people to make sure everything my name is associated with really represents me the way I want it to. So, the people who work for me, are me, in a sense. As far as the on air crew goes, I’ve worked with my core group, J., Sybil, and some of the behind the scenes people for many years, plus some newer people and we’re a tight team. It makes it much easier to enjoy what you do when you care about and can depend on the people you work with to bring their A-games each morning.
T2T: You know that you are a trusted and respected voice in our black communities throughout the country. People, including myself, will tune into your program many times before we go to CNN because we want to know how Tom and the crew feel about what’s going on in any given major situation. What kind of responsibility does that put on you and how do you keep ideas and opinions balanced, unbiased and accurate?
TJ: First of all, my ideas are accurate in my mind but I will never claim to be balanced and unbiased. My show, my foundation, our website, our cruise, our news is un-ashamedly pro black and always will be. I think there are enough media outlets dedicated to mainstream media and I’m not mad at them. I watch and support them, too. But when people want to know what’s important to Black America, they tune in or talk to me and I’m very proud of that. I don’t expect mainstream media to do what we do, that’s why we exist.
T2T: We know how important The Tom Joyner Foundation is to you and so many students who are the recipients of your foundation. Please tell me what inspired you to form this foundation? How can our T2T readers help and find out more about it?
TJ: The Tom Joyner Foundation is important to me because it was inspired by my mom. She was the one who instilled in me how vital it is to give back in your own way. Having come from a small town, Tuskegee, Alabama, where Historically Black Tuskegee University was the heart of our community, I developed a passion for HBCUs. It’s in my DNA. My grandparents, parents, brother, sons and nieces are all graduates of HBCUs. I know first hand what they’ve contributed to this country and the world and I’m committed to doing what I can to keep them vital. This means helping kids stay in school, raising money for the schools and also finding new and innovative ways to make sure HBCUs remain competitive. We are launching HBCUs Online to help even more students get an education by providing a space online for them to get all the information they need to pick the best school and program for them. It’s going to be great when everyone can have easier access to getting a degree from an HBCU.
T2T: Tom, my ultimate dream cruise is to go on the Fantastic Voyage! I’m working on it! In the meantime, who’ve you got on the Voyage this year?
TJ: We come with it every year and this cruise will be no different. It isn’t just the musical and comedy acts, it’s the combination of great music, great comedy, great seminars, parties, theme nights and great food. If I were you, I would stop working on it and just go ahead and book the cruise! Shameless plug: It really is the ultimate party with a purpose!
Okay, enough procrastinating for me…I’ve got to get my passport for sure now! Thanks, Tom!
