A veteran of the Hoosier airwaves for nearly five decades, Indianapolis native Tony Lamont got his start in gospel radio in the late 1970s but, since 4th grade, he told everyone he would be on WTLC one day.
When WTLC radio launched, Tony’s mom bought a console stereo, and the family would sit around listening while Tony pretended to DJ and do commercial voice overs.
While living in the 36-hundred block of North College Avenue, Tony became friends with the sons of WTLC general manager Tom Mathis, who lived just around the corner. Tony recalls joining the Mathis family at the station’s transmitter site after a fire, enthusiastically helping with the clean-up so the station could go back on the air.
He graduated from Pike High School where he performed in concert choir and barbershop quartets. He was also an athlete, participating in track and field, baseball, basketball, and football.
Comfortable in different settings, high school is where Tony began DJ’ing in earnest.
For his 18th birthday his mom helped him buy an amp, speakers and a set of turn tables from Radio Shack. He launched his own production company and hosted, emcee’d and DJ’d any event he could, from family reunions to block parties. Soon, he became a featured DJ at the Galaxy, an under-21 club in Speedway.
In 1979, with a few connections and plenty of chutzpah, Tony walked into WTLC, met future Hall of Fame honoree Amos Brown, and read a newspaper ad for him, showcasing his radio chops.
Brown said, “You’re not ready” because it sounded like Tony was reading. Tony immediately began working, polishing and honing his delivery to develop a radio voice that spoke rather than read, all the while doing mornings on gospel WXIR.
He achieved his childhood goal in late 1980. WTLC hired him and Tony became a part of the “Heart and Soul of the City” for 10 years.
Ever the entrepreneur, Tony simultaneously poured himself into Tony Lamont Enterprises, his production company.
Realizing his obligation to help others, he was called to use his radio platform to encourage young men and women to change their lives and make good choices.
Over the decades, he has presented to nearly every township and Indianapolis Public School with the “Be Against Drugs” campaign.
Tony Lamont has partnered with the Marion County Health Department, IPS, Indiana Black Expo, Indy Parks, 100 Black Men and others to motivate young people to stay drug and alcohol free. From kindergarten and high school classrooms to colleges, including Ball State and Vincennes University, to arenas like where the Pacers play, Tony’s presentations have positively impacted hundreds of thousands of lives.
In addition to his extraordinary community service, Tony has been an iconic and versatile Hoosier radio presence over the decades on WXIR , WTLC, and WHHH, and did a short stint on country station WGGR.
He teaches radio-TV at Arsenal Technical High School and works as a broadcaster on Radio One’s “Praise Indy.”
Tony was the announcer and then host of “Hoosier Millionaire,” the lottery TV game show.
Tony was co-executive producer, videographer, and editor of the short film “Missing Pieces” which profiles black men impacted by single fatherhood.
He has had the privilege of being the Master of Ceremonies, meeting or interviewing U.S. presidents including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. But it was his interview with President Barack Obama that made a long-lasting and positive effect on Tony’s life, one which he continues to generously share with others.
