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The fly jock speak out!
Ebony, Oct, 2005
You've heard his voice, seen his face, now you can read his words. TOM JOYNER, host of the "Tom Joyner Morning Show," has written a book, I'M JUSTA DJ BUT ... IT MAKES SENSE TO ME (A Warner Hardcover, $22.95), with author Mary Flowers Boyce. Besides reflecting on his journey to fame, Joyner dishes out advice and comments on American culture in a breezy style that is punctuated by Joyner's trademark humor and commanding insight. Below he talks exclusively to EBONY about what motivated him to write the book, his family life (he lives in Dallas with his wife, nationally known fitness expert Donna Richardson) and what's next for the "hardest working man in radio."
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Q: What motivated you to write this book?
A: It's no secret that I've been a C-minus student all my life, yet there are a lot of issues taking place in the news, in politics, in the community, etc. that people seem to make SO complicated. I don't understand how so many things can be so clear to me and yet so puzzling to other people who have a whole lot more expertise than I do on just about every subject. After all, I'm just a deejay.
Q: You're so busy. When did you find time to write?
A: During commercials. Instead of going to the restroom, I'd jot a few things down. Before I knew it, I had a book and a very full bladder. In all honesty, I made time for it because it was important to me. It's true that I am the hardest working man in radio, but I do have some down time. I did a lot of work on the book while flying around the country too.
Q: What is your target audience? You advise readers not to wear cornrows to a job interview.
A: My target audience always has been and always will be Black folks of all ages. Our radio listeners range from hip-hop to Bebop, old school to new school and from cornrows to wigs. In some households, the parents, the kids and Big Mama are all tuning in. But actually when I made the comments about cornrows, I was just hatin' since I have no hair.
Q: How did you become such an authority on Black culture?
A: I don't consider myself an authority on anything. Remember, I'm just a deejay. But I do have lots of experience being Black. My audience is Black, my family is Black, my hometown was Black and my college was Black. I look around, observe and talk about what I think as it relates to Black America. I get to talk and be heard more than most people because I happen to have a big microphone. And you know what they say about guys with big microphones! The book gave me an opportunity to put some of those observations down on paper.
Q: How is writing different from working on the air?
A: When I write, I have to use spell check and my nouns and verbs have to agree. On the radio, none of that matters.
Q: How is married life?
A: Great. Donna and I have been married five years now and I've got my magazine cover of EBONY to remind me of our wedding and how much fun it was. When a wedding starts off as good as ours did on a beach in Jamaica, we had to follow it with an exciting marriage. In fact, we're thinking of getting married all over again, just so we can have another party like we did five years ago. Donna is busy promoting Sweating in the Spirit. When she isn't busy doing that, she's by my side making me sweat. We are both very busy. So when we are together, we try to make it as special as possible. Every day we're in the same town together, it is a honeymoon.
Q: You've slimmed down. Is it the hectic schedule?
A: Partly. And it's also because of TV. I had a body for radio and now I have to get a body for our new syndicated television show that airs this fall. Check your local listings for dates and time. And remember the TV cameras add 250 pounds! (That's for the people who'll say, 'That's his TV body?')
Q: What kind of show will it be?
A: A one-hour variety show with musical guests, comedy sketches, and big fun with lots of audience interaction. It's Arsenio, Dave Chappelle, the Carol Burnett Show, Showtime at the Apollo, Saturday Night Live and Soul Train all wrapped into one.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
