Friday marked the last time urban radio listeners will hear the classic “Oh, oh, oh” segue into the beloved “Tom Joyner Morning Show.” The legendary disc jockey, known as The Fly Jock, retired Friday after 25 years on the air.
During the last 25 years, Joyner, 70, has introduced his audience to up-and-coming R&B acts and reintroduced many to musical talents of the 1980s, 1990s and beyond. It wasn’t all music, either, for the Tuskegee, Alabama, native. His show featured several political conversations and interviews with stars. It also featured unique segments including the radio soap opera “It’s Your World.”
Along the way, the show became America’s No. 1 syndicated urban morning show, airing in 105 markets nationwide, according to CBS News. His lucrative radio career only launched when his dream of being a musician faltered. He played with Lionel Richie’s The Commodores.
His family encouraged him to find other means of work, so he landed on a radio career that would broadcast him to 8 million listeners. The awards and success on the airwaves were an indication that he took the right route. For Joyner, empowering people was his primary goal.
“Our thing has always been to empower people. But to empower, we have to first entertain," Joyner told CBS News. “If I've got you laughing, I've got you listening.”
At one point, Joyner raked in $14 million a year, but as the radio industry declined and the urban morning radio trailblazer was no longer the only option, Joyner’s salary took hits — year after year.
“... My salary was based on my results, and not only was I losing affiliates but radio industry as a whole was losing traction...My goal was to die on the radio. Have my funeral on the radio,” Joyner said with a laugh.
On the last day of his broadcast, several famous and everyday radio listeners paid homage to Joyner on Twitter.
Sen. Kamala Harris shared a tribute to The Fly Jock on Friday, stating that he’s an essential part of black history.
»RELATED: Rickey Smiley to replace Tom Joyner when he retires
Though fans will miss Joyner and his political savant co-host Sybil Wilkes, Joyner will be replaced by a familiar personality. Rickey Smiley, who already airs his morning show on 60 stations, will transition over to many of Joyner’s stations in 2020.
Joyner and Smiley are part of Dallas-based Reach Media, which is majority owned by Urban One.
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