What can you say about Tom Joyner the "hardest working man on radio"? You could say I'm the poster child for HBCUs and I know I can't speak for everybody who attended an HBCU, but, I gained a sense of pride, a sense of confidence and a sense of history from attending Tuskegee."

He logged daily flight mileage between Chicago and Dallas for eight years, because he did not have one job offer, but two that he could not refuse including KKDA in Dallas and WGCI in Chicago. This bi-state travel schedule earned him the nickname "The Fly Jock" and Tom Joyner honed his skill with the microphone and his deep sense of responsibility. "I had the opportunity to do something I knew was different than what anyone else was doing," says Joyner, "a morning show in one city – Dallas – and an afternoon drive time show in Chicago." Joyner's rise to radio fame took him through a number of cities where he interacted with the people because of his type of community focused programming. "My radio show – and everything else I do – is based on informing, educating and entertaining. It's providing my audience information that in most cases they won't find anyplace else. At the same time, my radio show is providing a service to black people." After earning a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Tuskegee, the hometown boy, got his first real break at WRMA-AM in Montgomery, Alabama. He further developed his program model at other stations nationwide, but his unique persona, the Joyner style, was crafted at other Chicago stations along with WGIC including WJPC-FM, WVON-AM and WBMX-FM. With his "star on the rise", it was time for a change.  "The Tom Joyner Show," became nationally syndicated in 1994.

Joyner immediately incorporated his sense of social responsibility and "giving back" to his listeners and to his community. "Be like the Jeffersons. It's all right to move on up and move on out. Yeah, it's OK to move out the neighborhood once you get some zeros in that paycheck, the zeros that you're striving for. Don't be ashamed or afraid to do that, but come back as often as you can. Spend time in the 'hood. Spend money. Get your hair cut, get your hair did_ Stay in touch is what I'm saying. Stay in touch forever. And speaking of staying in touch with your old neighborhood, stay in touch with your alma mater. This institution will continue to need your time, your talent and your money. Send money. Mentor a student, teach a class, volunteer your help. ... Give back. Yeah, don't ever go so far ahead that you're unable to reach back and bring someone else along. Always make yourself available to those who are in need. Give your time, talent and money as often as you can. Give back to your community. Give back to your HBCU. Without your support, neither can survive."

"I'm lucky to have grown up in a place like Tuskegee, Alabama that was full of progressive black people who made me believe there wasn't anything I couldn't accomplish," Joyner says. In 1998, the Tom Joyner Foundation was established specifically to help students who are attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities who would not be able to afford to stay in school. Each month, the Foundation designates an HBCU for which it raises money. "The Foundation is all about keeping kids in school. That is what our mission is. That is our focus. I know from personal experience how important it is to attend an HBCU: my grandparents on both sides, my parents, my brother and my two sons all attended HBCUs.

His foundation has raised close to $30 million dollars with over 65 percent of the funds generated through individual contributions and all the proceeds directed to the students. "The money we raise goes to help the students," says Joyner. "We don't take out administrative costs." In addition to individual funders who support the organization, The Tom Joyner Foundation has a number of collaborations with a number of businesses that share Joyner's vision. "To date, the Foundation has worked with nearly 100 HBCUs. For these schools, we have been able to donate money that keeps students at the schools and spur the schools' alumni to get more involved with this important effort."

Joyner's investment in education is matched only in his business endeavors to entertain and to inform his public. With the show's increased popularity, Joyner expanded into other forms of communication and outreach. In January 2003, he formed REACH Media Inc., which is headquartered in Dallas, and it is the parent company for The Tom Joyner Show, BlackAmericaWeb.com, Tom Joyner Family Reunion and the Tom Joyner (TV) Show. "It is called REACH Media because that is what we do: 'reach' African-Americans."

Joyner is a firm believer in the power of radio as a communications tool and a medium that can call Blacks, or African-Americans, to action. "The Tom Joyner Morning Show is the heart of what REACH does and represents the power of Black radio. We talk to more than 8 million listeners every week, and they respond when we ask them to: Whether it's registering to vote or calling the Congress to protest a bill."

It is obvious that the program format and its originator are both productive and proactive. Now in its eleventh year of syndication, The Tom Joyner Show is aired in 115 markets across the country. The Sky Show that is touring the country and providing live broadcasts in major cities generates audiences in the thousands who flock to hear his comedic segments interspersed with music and commentary from a wide range of speakers ranging from former President Clinton to filmmaker Spike Lee. Rated the "Number #1 radio show in urban markets", The Tom Joyner Morning Show has impact in the industry and influence in the community through its programming and 'call to action'. Four years ago, Joyner launched "Take a Loved One to the Doctor" Day on September 20th to call attention to the need for Blacks to take better care of themselves and thousands participated. "Blacks are affected by certain diseases more than others, and 'Dr. Day' is my way of getting African-Americans to understand that – even though they don't want to – they've got to go to the doctor, get a check up and take care of their business." Joyner, who receives a physical exam annually, drew on the personal experience of his son who had been diagnosed with Diabetes. "At 28, he already had high blood pressure then he was diagnosed with Diabetes and his eating habits were not helping. After a number of medical opinions and a specific regimen, he is doing much better. I'm so grateful that he took the  necessary steps to improve his situation. There are others out there who need to take on their loved  ones and to help them to live better and longer."

The family unit itself is of great importance to Joyner. The extraordinary success of the Tom Joyner Family Reunion @ Walt Disney caused Joyner to often quip that "Mickey will never be the same" because of the overwhelming response and participation. The Tom Joyner Family Reunion has become a central location for people to reconnect with family and friends from across the country and around the world. "The Family Reunion is one way for me to get everybody together – like the old days – and have a good time."

Joyner has received numerous awards for his extensive professional accomplishments and his outstanding community service. In addition to being inducted in the Radio Hall of Fame, Joyner was named Billboard Magazine's Best Urban Contemporary Air Personality and he also received the Joe Loris Award from Impact Magazine for "Excellence in Broadcasting." In addition, he received Impact Magazine's Best DJ of the Year Award which has since been renamed the Tom Joyner Award.

When it became apparent that Joyner had more of a story to tell than the ones he shares over the radio waves and in live broadcasts, the idea of television was introduced to the Tom Joyner brand. With a tentative launch set for October 2005 on the ABC television stations WABC-TV in New York City and KABC-TV in Los Angeles, "The Tom Joyner Show" will be a music and variety series that will bring a new dimension to REACH Media and an even wider audience for Joyner's causes. "I'm not called the "hardest working man in radio" for nothing! What I've learned is that whatever you do is that you've got to be passionate about what you do and always give it all you've got. That's a  habit that I know has always worked for me.... So no matter what I do - radio, TV, internet - I don't lose focus about taking care of my audience. That's what I do and I will never lose site of that fact...."

For Joyner, the keys to success start early. "The key is to keep being productive and not to give up just because you think you're not getting that golden opportunity you feel you deserve. This includes doing the job that you may feel is beneath you. The "it's not my job" mindset never sits well with

employers. If your boss asks you to do it, and it's not illegal or immoral "it's your job!... In a world where, for many young people, it's all about the 'bling', my advice to young folks is to work hard and be willing to do the grunt work. That's why I believe it's never too early to talk to your children about working hard. If they begin taking out the trash, raking the neighbors' leaves, washing and waxing cars when they're kids, they won't look at you like you're crazy when you suggest that they accept an entry level position at a company."

In the midst of his various business ventures and community projects, Tom began the process of  writing his autobiography. "It was something that I had been thinking about for a while and I felt that I was living my story and inspiring others that way." The book is entitled, "I'm Just a DJ But….It makes  Sense to Me". It is being published by Warner Books and the hard cover version will be released in book stores in September. Joyner is excited about sharing many of his career highlights and some of the people, places and things that have given him encouragement.. "At the end of the day, I am just a DJ, but it does make sense that as a DJ or anything you want to be, you can make a difference and make a positive impression on someone else." The book will answer many of the questions that Joyner is frequently asked. "I've always been a dreamer, and if you have a dream, you've gotta go for it. Of course, it just does not happen overnight. If you want it, you can't just talk about it. You've got to get out there and get it." Joyner shares his life with the reader and, possibly, the spark that could ignite their dreams. A spark forever ingrained in Tuskegee, his hometown and alma mater. "HBCUs are my thing," writes Joyner in his book. "They continue to teach me that black folks can be self sufficient, yet competitive in mainstream America. Your thing may be something else entirely. But whatever it is, honor your commitment. No mountain or valley should keep you away. Everyday, I look forward to doing the [radio] show. I have the best fun all the time. ... Now, when it comes to the TV stuff and anything else I do, it's all about taking it to the next level. Anybody who works for me knows that I don't like to just sit back... Everything I do is about figuring out a way to 'super serve' the African American community. We always talk about 'partying with a purpose' so everything I do is with a purpose".