Radio Icon Tom Joyner Says Farewell After 25 Years On Air

After 25 years on the radio, #TomJoyner will be ending his beloved radio show “Tom Joyner Morning Show.”

Joyner’s last show aired Friday morning. It  is one of the longest-running radio shows for Black entertainment and news. “Twenty-five years ago, there was no template for a syndicated Urban radio show and we worked hard to prove that we could successfully produce and market a national platform that would entertain, inform and empower African-American listeners,” he said in a statement to his millions of listeners.

Taking Joyner’s spot will be a long-running radio show “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show.” According to Radio Insight, the show will now be moving to several of Joyner’s affiliates. As for retirement, Joyner says he plans on devoting his time fully to his Tom Joyner Foundation, which works to provide students from historically black colleges and universities with scholarships, among other initiatives.

Joyner will be forever missed on radio and fans are paying him a sweet farewell online. “It’s hard to be entertaining, informative and educational without ever talking down to your audience,” wrote sports journalist Bomani Jones. “Tom did that day after day for decades. I wish him and everyone who’s worked on that shows the best. They’ve done a lot for a lot of people.”

Sen. #KamalaHarris also opened up about Joyner’s legacy and impact. “Tom Joyner is a legend and has played a critical role in building community and lifting up all voices,” she tweeted. “He is Black history. It was an honor to be a guest on the @TJMShow but to also call him a friend. Enjoy retirement!”