TONY BROWN/CEO/HOST: “EYES OPEN WITH
TONY BROWN (BIO)
Tony
was born in Houston, Texas but moved to Lake Charles, LA as a child. He
grew up mostly in a single parent household. He is the youngest son of three boys,
Ivan, Darren, and he has two younger sisters, Kim and Lee Ann. His parents are his mother, Betty
Brown, and his father, the late Ivan “Bud” Brown Jr.
He
is blessed to have found his soul-mate, Bianca Brown, a Master Sergeant
who has served in the in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years.
After
Graduating with honors from Lake Charles High School, he then achieved
his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Houston in Radio &
Television Broadcast Journalism at the top of his Class.
He
is a Member of the Monroe Street Church of Christ in Alexandria and
serves on the finance Board, and Co-Chair of Marriage Seminar. He is a
Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity pledging in the Spring of 1984
at U of H.
He
is a founding member of the Fellas, Inc and has served as a member of the
Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Louisiana for 6
years, also previous community service has included 2 years as a member
of the Board of Directors of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Program, and
is a past Board Member for United Way Agencies of Cenla and is the
current Vice president and Board member of the Central Louisiana Business
League. (He was also the organizations 2005/06 Business Person of the
Year)
He
is the owner and CEO of Eyes Open Productions, LLC which consists of a
statewide radio show, and Advertising Agency, and the Executive Director
of a new non-profit group, Eyes Open Media. He is also the Executive
Producer and CEO of the Peabody Warhorse Radio Network and is owner of
the best soul food restaurant in Alexandria, LA, Soul Food Academy, LLP,
“When It Comes To Home Cooking, We Take You To School”.
Tony’s
show “Eyes Open with Tony Brown” is rated as the highest rated call-in
talk show in Louisiana. Through that program Tony has exposed corruption
in Winnfield, Bunkie, Ville Platte, Homer, Colfax and most notably in
Jena, Louisiana.
Mr.
Brown and his program have been recognized by both the Reverends Al
Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King III as the person
responsible for breaking the story, and coining the phrase “Jena Six” by
exposing the corrupt judicial system in Jena since the hanging nooses at
Jena High School in September of 2006.
Tony
also initially assisted the families of the Jena Six with getting in
touch with various agencies and civil rights groups to assist in a case
that has sparked what is being called “The New Civil Rights Movement”.
Jena Six has been voted by Jet Magazine as one the of Top 10 Stories of
2007.
Tony
has broadcast more than 200 hours at his expense in telling us this
story; he has done more than 150 radio, print and television interviews,
in an effort to accurately tell the Jena Six story to the world.
On
September 20th, his show was simulcast on 10 radio stations in
Florida, and on WWOL-AM in New York City.
He
has been featured on the BBC’s documentary, “Race Hate In America, The
New Jim Crow,” by Tom Mangold, CNN’s Special Investigation Unit,
“Judgment in Jena”, Dr. Phil, ABC news, USA Today, NBC news, Radio One,
Air-America Radio, and on the nationally syndicated urban radio shows
like, Michael Baisden, Steve Harvey, Warren Valentine, G.W. on the Hill,
Doug Banks and Joe Madison…just to name a few.
Tony
continues to lead the crusade to end the injustice in Louisiana that has
resulted in the deaths of an alarming number of unarmed black men across
the state by white police officers in rural communities whom are sworn to
serve and protect the public.
One
of these deaths was 21 year old Barron “Scooter” Pikes of Winnfield, LA
who was electrocuted to death, after being tased 9 times in 14 minutes by
former Winnfield police officer Scott Nugent. All this while handcuffed in police
custody back in January of 2008.
Tony continues to beat the drum for righteousness by broadcasting
this story in hopes that the family will have closure in this senseless killing.
That officer remains free more than a year and half after this brutal
murder, still no justice in this case.
He
was also instrumental in organizing the “March for Justice” rally in
Homer, LA in response to the tragic shooting death of 76 year old Bernard
Monroe Sr. on February 20, 2009 by a white police officer who had less
than 30 days on the job. Mr.
Monroe was shot 7 times during a family barbeque at his own home by
former Homer police officer Tim Cox, who had illegally entered Mr.
Monroe’s home. The rally was led by the Rev. Al Sharpton and Claiborne
Parish Chapter NAACP President Rev. Willie Young, which was attended by
more than 1,000 outraged citizens.
Six months later, still no indictment.
Most
recently, Tony began exposing the shooting death of yet another unarmed
black man, 54 yr old Harold Phillips, who was shot 5 times in the back by
former police officer Steven Merchant back on July 24t. That officer has now been indicted on
manslaughter charges in that shooting death in Colfax, LA.
Tony
says if he can pass on anything it would be for young people never let
anyone tell you what you can’t do. He adds, the greatest weapon you have
to live a full and happy life is a belief in "God, Family, A Good
Education, And A Giving Spirit Along With The Drive And Motivation To
Make A Positive Difference In This World."
You
can listen to Tony’s statewide broadcast “Eyes Open with Tony Brown”,
Monday through Friday, 5:30am-7:30am on 88.1 FM in Alexandria, LA; 92.5
FM in Shreveport, LA; 98.9 FM in Monroe, LA and on the worldwide web at www.eyesopenwithtonybrown.com
and www.kaytfm.com.
- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/Radio & Television
Broadcasting
- Minor: Public Relations/Business
Marketing
- Graduated number one in Broadcasting Performance, School of
Communications
- Grand Chapter member of Kappa Alpha PSI, Inc., Spring 1984
ETA Lambda Chapter, University of Houston
- Active member of the University of
Houston Alumni Association
•
1988 - Reporter, KMBT-TV, Beaumont, TX
•
1989 - Reporter, WJKS-TV, Jacksonville, FL
•
1992 - News Anchor/Reporter, KMBT-TV,
Beaumont, TX
•
1993 - Anchor/Producer, KALB-TV, Alexandria,
LA
•
1994 - News Anchor/Producer/Reporter, 31
KLAX-TV, Alexandria, LA
•
1996 - Marketing Consultant, WNTZ Fox 48/WB,
Alexandria, LA
•
1998 - News Director/Marketing Consultant,
Trinity Broadcasting, Boyce, LA
•
1999 -2002 News Director/Marketing
Consultant, Cenla Broadcasting, Alexandria, LA
•
2002 to Present-Owner/CEO Eyes Open
Productions, LLC: Host of Highest
rated call-in talk show in Louisiana. Credited with the Phrase “Jena Six”
and for breaking original story at least five months before any
mainstream or urban media covered it.
•
2005 to Present- Executive Director/Eyes Open
Media “Paula Frazier” Emergency
Fund: Non-profit Agency
dedicated to helping victims of Domestic Violence, Hurricanes, House
Fires and immediate tragedies. To date has donated more than $40,000 to
many families throughout Louisiana without any grant or governmental
assistance.
*1989
– Outstanding Young Men of America
*1988 & 1991
Associated Press Award Winner – Investigative Reporting/Hard News
*1988
– Southwest Texas Rape Crisis Center Achievement Award
*1995 to Present –
Founding member of the Fellas, Inc., a Lake Charles community
organization dedicated to providing that area with positive African
American male role models
*1999 to Present –
Board of Directors, Central Louisiana Boys & Girls Club
*1999 -
Membership Drive Salesperson of the Year, Central Louisiana Chamber of
Commerce
*2001
– Appointed member of the African American Quiz Bowl Committee
*2005 – Central
Louisiana Business League Person of the Year
*2008 – Louisiana
NAACP Champion of the Cause
•
