Joe Thomas in-the-morning Bio
Born Friday, September 13th, 1963 (Staunchly NON-superstitious)
Flushing Hospital, NYC
Mother was a trailblazing glass-ceiling breaker that was the first female bank executive in California history when she became VP for Letters of Credit for Crocker Bank.
Father was considered a “founding father” of Burger King, pioneering the kitchen design still used today that enabled their “Have it Your Way” campaign.
Graduated Bayside HS with the “Wolf of Wall Street” Jordan Belfort and the founders of the band Anthrax.
Began his radio career at WPUT-am in Brewster NY where he was afternoon show host and stringer for the newsroom where he was dispatched to cover the Tawana Brawley story.
Parlayed a willingness to do what was needed (run the sports broadcasts for sister station) to score his first major job at WRCN in the Nassau/Suffolk market. Here he learned big time promotions working with Jones Beach Amphitheater, The Nassau Coliseum and all the major venues in the Hamptons over his four years there.
He also met the young lady that would become his wife when she was playing ‘wing woman’ for a close friend that was trying to hook up with Joe. The birth of their first child came while Joe was hosting a Monday Night football party which he had regular customer Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple/Rainbow) finish the remote while he headed to the hospital.
His morning career began as he took over mornings at WKOJ in Middletown NY where his promotional acumen continued to grow as he partnered with legendary concert promoter Sid Bernstein to put together the ‘Unofficial Woodstock 25th Anniversary” at the original Yasgur’s Farm site which funded the endowment that has become the Bethel Woods Music Conservatory.
His career has included broadcast stops at other notable summer destinations of Hyannis, MA and Ocean City, MD as well as another notable ‘college town’ State College, PA. He also woke up Buffalo, NY and shepherded his Star 102.5 listeners through the tragic terrorist attacks of 9/11/01, anchored morning news in Philadelphia and even spending a brief stint on the radio station he grew up listening to, WNEW-fm in New York City!
Joe arrived in Charlottesville on a September weekend in 2007 and fell for the town and the idea of resurrecting a legendary station from the mismanagement at the hands of a large national chain. His promotional acumen has repeatedly come to play as he has helped grow the audience and the advertising support and his experience during the Brawley trial and 9/11 came into play as he shepherded his listeners and the station through the riotous summer of 2017. 14 years later he continues to wake up every morning looking to find ways to serve the listener. (Joe’s core broadcast principle is; “No Matter How Many Listeners You Have, They Are ALL Listening One-at-a-Time.”)