Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
When Tom Joyner officially signed off from the airwaves last year, the world of morning radio was without one of its living legends. With that massive void yet to be filled by the many capable morning show hosts of today, Black Twitter gathered together to fondly remember The Fly Jock.
Joyner’s professional career in radio started in the 1970s and the story of how he earned his Fly Jock nickname proved why he also had another nickname, “The Hardest Working Man In Radio.”
For eight years, Joyner worked a morning show in Dallas on KKDA-FM, and commuted to Chicago for an afternoon show on WGCI-FM, racking up millions of frequent flier miles in the process. In 1994, Joyner was signed to the ABC Radio network and his nationally-syndicated program, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, was born.
With Joyner running point, his co-host Sybil Wilkes and former co-host J. Anthony Brown, and other rotating personalities informed and enlightened their devoted fan base. The show was a hub of progressive Black thought and promoted excellence via education and service. Along with daily news bits, comedy skits, and guest hosts, the show also heavily promoted the contributions Black people have made to the world via the Little Known Black History Facts segment.
Joyner signed off in December 2019 and passed the torch to his Omega Psi Phi brother in Rickey Smiley, who now maintains the morning show slot that his predecessor commanded for 25 years. While Smiley is as capable as they come, fans on Twitter are missing the Joyner and his signature theme song on their drives.
We’ve got those reactions from Twitter below.
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Photo: Getty
Black Twitter Gives Strong Salute To The ‘Fly Jock’ Tom Joyner was originally published on hiphopwired.com
1.
Back when I was a kid it was the Tom Joyner Morning show on blast🤦🏽♀️😂 https://t.co/0X7dLfMa3P
— Sharish-Elizabeth🤸🏾♀️ (@LaBella_Mafiaa) May 18, 2020
2.
My Pop Pop passed today due to Coronavirus 🙏🏿...he was my guy as a kid! Used to walk me to school , help me with my science projects, and listen to the Tom Joyner morning show while he drew or fixed something...ima miss him.
— MIQUE (@MiqueOnTheMix) May 17, 2020
Please stay healthy y’all! pic.twitter.com/DxpaT24yL7
3.
Tom Joyner had the best theme song in radio history. Let’s not forgot he had a whole soap opera “It’s Your World.” #icon pic.twitter.com/ue8A2BarCc
— Love live and laugh (@Keys2life__) May 18, 2020
4.
When I had a mild heart attack thinking something happened to Tom Joyner because he’s trending, but see that folks are just reminiscing pic.twitter.com/4YoQUzFudd
— Game... Blouses (@thereal_bmoore) May 18, 2020
5.
Tom Joyner is trending, just here to support - 'oh, oh, ohhhh... it's the @TJMShow!' pic.twitter.com/j510NpS7yd
— Ebony (@hey_ebie) May 18, 2020
6.
yall young, it used to be the tom joyner morning show for me.
— moonwoman (@jnxh_) May 18, 2020
7.
Tom Joyner is trending and I instantly thought the worst.
— desireé ☽ (@desirighthere) May 18, 2020
It's just people reminiscing about the Tom Joyner Morning Show. pic.twitter.com/xYquWgJf3Z
8.
Ok Tom Joyner trending on twitter hit me with nostalgia hardcore. I remember being a kid listening to that radio show (thanks mom). Honestly, the "It's Your World" episodes were amazing!
— AxisZtv (@AxisZtv) May 18, 2020
9.
I always appreciated the Tom Joyner Morning Show bc he promoted HBCUs & taught me so much about my culture. 😩 Forever grateful for shit like that.
— 🖤 (@Krista0201) May 18, 2020
10.
My favorite memories from Tom Joyner Morning Show:
— The Last Doctor 👫🏿🐶🕰 (@Power_Man2099) May 18, 2020
- "It's Your World"
- Jay Anthony Brown murdering the hits
- Silk's Old School/New School remixes
- Anytime Sybil Wilkes spoke ❤#TJMS
11.
12.
Riding to school and hearing about that gahddamn Tom Joyner cruise for the 700th time... pic.twitter.com/4hfue9FzuD
— Jordan (@Jsullhart) May 18, 2020
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14.
Oh oh oh..i said a oh oh ohhhhh..it’s the Tom Joyner Morning Shoooowwww
— Chris Major (@DJCHRISMAJOR) May 18, 2020
15.
Shout out to Tom Joyner.. he put a lot comics on his morning radio show to help promo their comedy shows.. His radio show supported so much of the Black experience back in the day... pic.twitter.com/WaopjHoK3f
— Loni Love (@LoniLove) May 18, 2020
