Tom Wardle

For four years, he compiled and published the TopTrax Traditional Country Airplay Chart, ranking monthly airplay from 40–50 reporting US stations. His efforts were widely recognized, including by several Grand Ole Opry members…..folks who were thrilled to see their names on a meaningful chart once again. Tom also worked as a radio promoter for independent artists, and has emceed a number of country music concerts and bluegrass festivals.

In 1995, Tom began his radio DJ experience, when he initially co-hosted a big band/popular standards show on WDVR-FM in New Jersey. At WDVR, he expanded into airing two weekly traditional country music shows — 'Country Classics' and 'Honky Tonks & Heartaches'. These broadcasts continued for 13 years, until he retired from WDVR in 2008. Concurrently, he recorded a weekly show for 'Twangtown USA' in Nashville.

Following his departure from WDVR-FM, Tom became a free-lance DJ, recording weekly shows at his home studio and transmitting them to KSEY-FM in Seymour, Texas, KWSP-FM in Kerrville, Texas and internet broadcast as 'The Renegade'.

In 2014, he joined the newly-established KTNK-AM/FM in Lompoc, California (America's honky-tonk station), where his shows were broadcast 56 hours per week, as KTNK's flagship program. In 2020, he joined the staff of 'Keeping It Country Live', an internet platform, and in 2024, was added to the lineup on 'Real Deal Country Radio'.

His show features only solid, traditional country and honky tonk. The show features a huge complement of independent and unknown artists, who carry on the tradition of legitimate country music, as well as the legends, the 'not-so' legends and obscure artists from the golden age of country……whom he refers to as 'no hit wonders' or 'unsung honky tonk heroes'. Included regularly are listener-favorite steel guitar instrumental solos. A world-wide audience regularly enjoys "the best country music you never heard", and like Tom professes…"If it ain't traditional, it ain't country".

Tom is a retired mechanical engineer and resides in Bucks County, PA.