This MIDWEST BEAT with TOM LOUNGES” originally aired on TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

GUESTS:  OSCAR HAMOD of Oscar & The Majestics, SARAH DENTION of Radio Memories and KEVIN GARAGOSIAN of The Neverly Brothers

In-studio guests this installment of “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” were OSCAR HAMOD of OSCAR & THE MAJESTICS and SARAH DENTON of RADIO MEMORIES.   Calling in by phone was  KEVIN GIRAGOSIAN of THE NEVERLY BROTHERS.

This “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired on March 15, 2016

IN-STUDIO GUESTS:   Celtic-Americana Music Group SWITCHBACK

A special St. Patrick’s edition of  “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges” was heard  this tonight as the internationally-popular Celtic-American group — SWITCHBACK — paid a visit as in-studio guests. 

This “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired March 22, 2016

IN-STUDIO GUEST:  Guitar Virtuoso MARCO VILLARREAL

Tonight’s edition of  “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges” features in-studio guest MARCO VILLARREAL, an amazingly talented Northwest Indiana guitar virtuoso who began playing at age 15 and has never looked back.  

Much of the news about the Northwest Indiana steel industry focuses these days on improving output and reduced overseas steel “dumping,” thanks to recent tariff increases and other action taken on Capitol Hill.  Times of Northwest Indiana business reporter Joseph Pete talked about these topics, and the Region’s steel industry in general, recently on “Regionally Speaking.”  Pete started with the news of an increase in steel output.

This “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired on MARCH 8, 2016

GUEST:  Singer/Songwriter CARL GIAMMARESE of THE BUCKINGHAMS

Tyrone Ridgell has made Inland steel his home for over 30 years.  It was not easy to get a job and keep a job as a black man at inland steel but he made it. After retiring  he looks back and says over all been,it was a great experience working at the steel mill. It allowed him to provide a great standard of living for him and his family.

This “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired on FEBRUARY 23, 2016 

Guest:  SHERYL YOUNGBLOOD & SAY YES! 

Topic: “The Evolution of Black Music: Motown to Funk “

For this fourth week of the “MIDWEST BEAT  Black History Month Series” the evolution of black music in America continues…

GARY  -  Gary native and self-published author Crystal O'Brien is now a happy, at-peace person, but that was not always the case.  There was a time when no matter what she did, she just couldn't get happy and it all stemmed back to her tumultuous upbringing.

O'Brien was the victim of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her own father.  It went on for several years from the time she was 12 until she was 15 years-old.

This “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired on FEBRUARY 16, 2016 

GUEST:  BILLY FOSTER -- Jazz Musician & Jazz Educator

Topic: “The Evolution of Jazz: Ragtime to Post-Bop & Cool Jazz “

This edition of “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired on FEBRUARY 9, 2016 

GUEST: JOE LOUIS WALKER & BILLY SHELTON with THE SPANIELS FOREVER 

Topic: “The Evolution of Blues: Acoustic to Electric “

UNDATED - Valentine's Day 2016 just passed and it's a time many of us reflect on our love-life and maybe even on the topic of love in-general.

Lakeshore Public Radio is bringing you this series on Love and finding love, with Ken Page, author the best selling book "Deeper Dating: How to drop the Games Seduction and Discover the Power of Intimacy."

Valentines Day is not just about romantic love. It's about all kinds of love. After all, the search for love is really an intimacy journey.

This “A LOOK AT THE ARTS/Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges” aired on FEBRUARY  12, 2016

GUEST:  LLOYD PRICE – Music Icon & Author

February is Black History Month and many of Tom Lounges’ programs are embracing the black musical culture and the artists who have contributed to it over the years.

As part of our examination of the steel industry we have been talking to African Americans some of whom have worked in the steel mills of northwest Indiana for almost 40 years. They tell stories of struggle against tremendous odds about becoming part of the middle class and all that means, most specifically being able to give their families a better life which is after all very Americans story.

Over the next few weeks we will be taking a closer look at the steel industry.

Over a week long series of conversations — Lakeshore Public Radio’s Steven Lattimore talked with a group of African-American steel workers to tell us what it is like working in the mills . Some have as much as 40 years in the mills — some who have worked in the mill for  eight years.

(LAKE COUNTY, IN)  - Three out-of-state companies, which may or may not be real, have used the complexities of a tax sale to cheat Lake County residents out of surplus money they were entitled to from the sale of their property.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the three companies and their owners for allegedly working in concert to perpetrate the scheme.

This “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired on  FEBRUARY 2, 2016 

 BLACK HISTORY MONTH: A FIVE-PART SERIES: 

PART ONE:  SPIRITUALS, GOSPEL & DOO-WOP -- “THE EVOLUTION OF BLACK MUSIC IN AMERICA”

February is BLACK HISTORY MONTH.   Each February installment of “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges,” will be part of a month-long series with guest co-hosts and live performers as Tom Lounges spotlights the evolution of Black Music in America — progressing from early Spirituals to bass-slappin’ Funk.

This edition of “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired on Tuesday, January 26, 2016  

GUEST:  Singer/Songwriter STEVE FORBERT

This edition of “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges” features musical guest STEVE FORBERT, who chats about his career, songwriting and his sixteenth and latest studio album, “COMPROMISED,” which is now available from Ridge Rock Records.   

This edition of “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired on JANUARY 19, 2016 

THE YEAR’S TOP REGIONAL ALBUMS SPOTLIGHTED!

Each  year Tom Lounges — host of Lakeshore Public Radio’s weekly “Midwest BEAT”interview/music program and long time music columnist/feature writer of The Northwest Indiana Times – reflects on the previous year’s crop of homegrown new album releases, and picks his personal Top 10 favorites.

This edition of “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired on January 12, 2016

TOM LOUNGES’ DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE

TONIGHT’S SHOW FEATURES BOWE’S MUSIC & CLIPS FROM HIS MIDWEST BEAT INTERVIEW with guest commentary from ’70 punk rock pioneer – JIM SKAFISH

This installment of “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges” is a tribute to the late, great chameleon of rock ‘n ‘roll — DAVID BOWIE — who had died this week at the age of 69 after an 18-month battle with cancer.      

This “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired on JANUARY 1, 2016 

“MIDWEST BEAT with TOM LOUNGES”

Celebrating ELVIS' Legacy with  DJ FONTANA, DAN LENTINO & OMAR FARAG

 GUESTS:    DJ FONTANA, DAN LENTINO & OMAR FARAG

This edition of “MIDWEST BEAT with TOM LOUNGES” originally aired on December 29, 2015 

“MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges”

Musical/Interview Guest:  CHARLIE DANIELS

Fresh from his 2015 U.S. tour that brought him to Hammond, Indiana’s “Festival of the Lakes” and Chicago’s Joe’s On Weed Street night club in 2015 — CHARLIE DANIELS — returns to guest on the weekly “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges” radio program on 89.1FM-Lakeshore Public Radio.

This edition of MIDWEST BEAT is a SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SHOW originally aired Christmas Day, DECEMBER 25, 2015

GREAT SEASONAL SONGS!   Blues, Country, Rock and Homegrown Artists playing tunes from the outer reaches of the Holiday Music Spectrum.    As those who regularly listen to “Midwest BEAT” and host Tom Lounges might expect, this is NOT your father’s Holiday Music program.

This edition of “MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015 

“MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges”

Musical Guest: JOE BONSALL of the Oak Ridge Boys

This edition of MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges” originally aired WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

“CHRISTMAS WITH THE NELSONS” RADIO SPECIAL

Special Guest: GUNNAR NELSON