WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s an honor reserved for individuals who have dedicated more than 4,000 hours of service to their respective fields and communities.
And, it has been bestowed upon an iconic radio industry figure who is widely known by multigenerational multicultural audiences across South Florida thanks to his time at both “99 JAMZ” and “Hot 105” in Miami.
James T., whose surname is Thomas, is a recipient of a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
This award is part of the White House Community Service Initiative, and recognizes Thomas’s 53-year radio career and positive impact on South Florida.
Thomas got his start at then-Top 40 WIRK-AM 1290 in West Palm Beach in 1970, while in college. One year later, he became the News/Sports Director for one of the big R&B stations of the time, WRBD-AM, and the precursor to WMXJ-FM, then under the WCKO call letters. The Fort Lauderdale-focused stations, combined with his WIRK experience, led WPTV-5 in West Palm Beach to invite him on-air to host a community entertainment and public affairs program.
In September 1982, James T. made a big shift by going south, to Miami. At the time, WEDR was known as “Soul Starforce 99,” and had a much smaller signal contour than today. Yet, over nine years in morning drive, he became a significant player in the radio scene, attracting an audience against such top talent as Bill Tanner, Sonny Fox and Herman & McBean.
In 1990, with a power increase allowing WEDR to cover Broward County in full, he became Program Director and relaunched the R&B station, now dabbling in hip-hop, as “99 JAMZ.” It quickly shot to the top of the ratings. The station, today owned by Cox Media Group, remains one of the nation’s leading stations in its format.
The same can be said of WEDR’s sibling, Adult R&B WHQT “Hot 105.” In 2003, James T. made the transition to Hot 105 from 99 Jamz, and today can be heard in middays. Hot 105 is perhaps the nation’s most-listened-to station by audience in its format.
“James is a beloved figure in South Florida and has left an indelible mark on the region,” says Ralph Renzi, Vice President and General Manager of CMG Miami. “His professionalism, work ethic, and passion to serve others makes him the perfect candidate for this award. We couldn’t be prouder.”
Thomas’s commitment to community runs deep. He has personally mentored and developed the talents of numerous broadcast and radio employees. Thomas also served as a board member of the Embrace Girls Foundation, and contributed heavily to the Roots Cultural Festival in Delray Beach, Fla.
Perhaps his signature impact has come from his annual James T Celebrity Golf Challenge Fundraiser, which supports mentoring and role modeling in educational learning and life skills. Thomas has also been an ardent supporter of the South Florida Black Awards Program, designed to salute Black Achievers in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties and he’s partnered with organizations like the Broward County Library, ULBC, The Boys & Girls Club, and numerous other non-profit organizations.
At the same time, Thomas has made significant contributions to the radio industry. He’s received numerous awards and honors, including DJ of the Year from Black Radio Exclusive and Jack the Rapper. He’s been recognized as Omega Man of the Year by Omega Si Phi fraternity and was inducted into the National Black Radio Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2019, he was honored with the African American Achievers Awards, presented by JM Family. As a Hot 105 on-air talent, Thomas was an integral part of three Marconi Excellence in Radio award-winning teams.
