TOM BARNARD

Morning-drive powerhouse Tom Barnard was born in Long Prairie, Minnesota and grew up on the north side of Minneapolis. He grew up with six brothers and sisters and was raised almost entirely by his mother. Known for his gravelly baritone voice, Barnard has worked in radio since 1970.

He started as a voiceover artist and would become one of the top five in the nation voicing for mega brands like Gatorade, Nike, McDonald’s and Home Depot. He was also the voice of KSTP-TV in the Twin Cities. Eventually he would work at Capitol Records, where he represented the likes of Bob Seger and made indelible connections in the music industry.

In 1986, he joined KQRS-FM in Minneapolis. His sense of humor and candor on almost any subject set him apart from all others. He also had a reputation for being a keen interviewer, which attracted celebrities and newsmakers from all over the world who wanted to be a guest on his program. It’s no wonder the KQ Morning Show became the highest rated morning show in America.

Recognizing his excellence in broadcast, the National Association of Broadcasters honored Barnard in 2006 with the Marconi Award for Large Market Personality of the Year. 

Tom Barnard was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2017.