Tom Lounges

Tom is the founder/publisher/editor and primary writer of Midwest BEAT Magazine. While at the helm of this publication, Lounges enjoyed a successful freelance writing career over the last 25 years. His work has appeared in the pages of such national music publications as Song Hits, Video Rock Stars, Relix Magazine, Goldmine Magazine, Teen Stars, Word Up Magazine, Elvis International and others.

During that time, he has also written for such Midwest entertainment publications as The Illinois Entertainer, The Prairie Sun, The Entertainment Finder, The Chicago Rocker, Hot Potato Magazine and Alternative Magazine. Along with those publications, Lounges has written for a an array of mainstream Chicago area newspapers since the early 1980s, including The Gary Post-Tribune and The Herald Newspaper Group. He currently is in his 23rd year as weekly music columnist and entertainment feature writer for The Times of Northwest Indiana, a daily newspaper he began writing for in 1982.

Lounges' work was featured in the best-selling music history book, “They Called It Rock: The Oral History of Rock ‘N’ Roll,” published in the early-1990s by New York’s Krause Publications. He has also written the album liner notes for over a dozen LPs released by Back-Trac/CBS Special Products. Among the artists whose albums he annotated were –– Johnny Winter, The Dixie Cups, The Shirelles, Fabian, Frankie Avalon, Pacific, Gas & Electric, Fevertree and The Shangra-las.

Lounges’ career began as a radio announcer and radio engineer. Since his radio days with WLNR-FM and Night Rock Radio/WFLM-FM, Lounges has been the on-camera host for three Midwest-based cable and PBS television programs. He has been a frequent guest on the radio and television programs of others and has had cameo appearances in two MTV music videos.

Lounges has lectured on both journalism and music history at many N.W. Indiana schools and Chicagoland colleges over the years, including a "History Of Rock 'N' Roll" course. Lounges is frequently asked to judge at both national and local music competitions.

Along the way, Lounges also managed the careers of select regional music acts; has managed major night clubs; and has done entertainment consultant work. Despite the many hats he has worn, Lounges’ focus has always remained on the local music scene that he has been a fan of for the past 30 years. He is currently a member of The National Music Critics Association (NMCA) and The Association For Independent Music (AFIM).

You can hear Lounges daily from on 2-7PM onXROCK 103.9 FM, doing what he does best - playing rock'n'roll. You can also hear his "Budweiser True Music Rock In The Region Reports" on XROCK. These 90-second segments inform listeners what national and local artists are performing live in the Chicagoland region each week. He also does special "XROCK INSIDER" celebrity interview segments for the station. Among the many guests who have been interviewed by Lounges on his "Insider" segments have been –– David Bowie, The Yardbirds, Triumph, Bret Michaels (of Poison), Alice Cooper, M&R Rush, Average White Band and Charlie Daniels.

Tom Lounges is the Music Director and weekly co-host of the NIGHT ROCK RADIO program that airs every Sunday night at 6:00pm Central on XROCK/103.9. Joining him on this program that spins forgotten classics, really deep cuts and hometown rock artists is executive producer Lisa Sotiros and co-host Paul Braun.

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