Tom-E-Lee Z99 RADIO

(this site in no way reflects the opinions of KXRA or its other employees, this is the sole site of Tom-E-Lee Mornings on Z99.3 )Radio announcer's hero points him in the right directionJo Colvin, Lifestyle Reporter for the Echo Press 11/10/2006It's hard to believe that the 6-foot, 4-inch guy with the booming voice almost didn't make it. Tom-E-Lee, the morning radio personality/announcer at Z99 (KXRZ) Radio station in Alexandria, has come a long way since his shaky start.Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1975, Tom-E-Lee was two and a half months premature. His parents were casualties of a conflict between the Palestinians and Israel, and were killed by a bomb shortly after his birth.The Red Cross found the newborn in a bombed out area near a hospital and church. At first he was believed to be dead. He was malnourished and had pneumonia. Doctors weren't sure he would live.He was taken to an orphanage in Beirut – and that's when his savior came along."I was raised just by my mom. She is my hero," Tom-E-Lee said. "We struggled. She worked three jobs. She sold her jewelry to feed me."His adoptive mother, a Lebanese-born American, had traveled to Beirut for the private adoption of a baby girl. When the "price" for the baby was raised, she instead went to the orphanage. And she found her son.After going through a difficult immigration process, the family made it back to the U.S., eventually to the Twin Cities.When Tom-E-Lee was in 4th grade, a teacher took his class to a radio station – and the young boy knew from that moment on what he wanted to do with his life."I got bit by the bug, and I've been in love with it [the radio business] ever since," he said.After graduating, he pursued that career and attended Brown Institute."I kept getting radio jobs and moving around trying out different stations," he recalled.In 2000 he began a five-year hiatus from the business, during which he tried a "wide variety of things," from delivering pizza to selling cars, to see if there was anything else he was interested in.But the airwaves were too strong to resist. He sent out tapes and received a call from Brett Paradis, owner of KXRZ and KXRA, requesting an interview."And the rest is history," he said. "Four days later I had the job."He started off with a bang in Alexandria on July 4, 2005. From 6 to 10 a.m. on weekdays, Tom-E-Lee entertains listeners on Z99 during his morning show, which he describes as being "perfect because of its imperfections."Besides having to scrape snow off the car at 5:30 a.m. and give people sad news, there isn't anything he doesn't like about his work."I wouldn't even say it's work, it's a family," he said sincerely. "I have never met a better group of people who accepted me from day one. It's hard to find a job you love to go to every single day and that you are appreciated for."Besides helping people "escape from the sadness in society" and "laugh and enjoy life," Tom-E-Lee's chosen career path is paving the way for him to achieve his main objective – paying back his hero."I give my mom credit for helping me find the right direction. Probably the most important thing in my life is her support," he concluded. "My goal in radio has always been to be able to give my mom the things she never got."------------------------------------------------------T hanks for checking out my space, more then not you should be working but you are wasting your time on the internet.....does the boss know you are doing this? More then that is anyone looking....I will give you a moment to check.( insert bad huming )Ok your back, welcome to the Tom-E-Lee or AKA THe DJ in the PJs. My radio carrer is long, I have done everything from major market to small even national radio. I grew tired of the big corps who ran everything like clear channel who if I am not mistaken owns each of us in a small way...trust me...I left radio for a year and it turned into 5 years off, I found myself looking to get back in and was offered a job here in Alexandria, I have some friends here and love the area and could not be happier. Everyday is great and fun, we do more pratcial jokes on each other and laugh all day long. My first job in radio was when I was in 4th grade and did a radio play at a local station in Minneapolis, ever since then I have had the bug. On top of being a radio DJ I am a professional Close-up magician and stage actor.For those of you who want to know all the dirty secrets here you go.......................................................... Ok I can't think of any...I hope your not disapointed.Check me out Mornings in Alexandria Minnesota on Central Minnesotas Z99.3 FM www.kxra.comLeave a message. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP