19 Facts About Tom Joyner

1.

Thomas Joyner was born on November 23,1949 and is an American radio personality, host, philanthropist and former musician.

2.

Joyner is the former host of the nationally syndicated The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and founder of Reach Media Inc.

3.

Tom Joyner came from an educated family: his grandfather Oscar was one of only 3,000 black physicians in the United States, earning a degree in medicine in 1909.

4.

Tom Joyner had been involved in college radio and began his broadcasting career in Montgomery, Alabama immediately upon graduation, and worked at a number of radio stations in the South and Midwest, including stations in Dallas, Memphis and St Louis, before moving to Chicago in early 1978.

5.

In 1983, Tom Joyner returned to Dallas to become morning host at KKDA-FM.

6.

Tom Joyner later told Radio Ink magazine that he racked up seven million frequent flyer miles over the course of his employment at both stations; a travel agent had found him a $30,000 fare that would guarantee him a round-trip seat for five years.

7.

Tom Joyner was able to work for both stations concurrently since neither of his two employment contracts had an exclusivity clause.

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8.

Southwest Airlines is a prominent sponsor of the radio show, especially Tom Joyner's "Sky Shows", and free round-trip airfare to any destination that Southwest flies to was a recurring giveaway on his show.

9.

Tom Joyner appeared with his father and grandfather in the documentary "Rising from the Rails: The Story of the Pullman Porter" crediting his family with passing down important values which he passed down to his sons as well.

10.

Tom Joyner's grandfather Oscar "Doc" Joyner was a Pullman porter who became a medical doctor.

11.

Tom Joyner has had cameo roles in two films-The Gospel and Madea Goes to Jail.

12.

Tom Joyner had another television show, The Tom Joyner Sky Show, and has appeared on many other television programs.

13.

Tom Joyner is a descendant of North Carolina Supreme Court justice John Hall, and, according to a DNA analysis performed by African Ancestry Inc.

14.

Tom Joyner has been an advocate for voter registration and throughout the year promotes voter registration over the air, on his website and during his live "Sky Shows" broadcasts.

15.

Tom Joyner participated in the 2011 Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's research, care and support.

16.

On October 7,2004, Tom Joyner was awarded the NAB Marconi Radio Award.

17.

In 1998, Tom Joyner was the first African American to be inducted into The National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago, Illinois.

18.

Tom Joyner was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King, Jr.

19.

On June 28,2015, Tom Joyner was awarded the Humanitarian Award at the 2015 BET Awards.