Thomas Radai

1944 - 2018

Radai, Thomas Thomas J. Radai, 73, passed away on June 25, 2018, in Milwaukee. Tom was born in New York, NY on August 7, 1944. Tom loved music and became interested in the blues as a teenager. He was a graduate of Pulaski High School and later MATC and UWM. Tom eventually worked for MATC and WISC-TV in Madison. He sang and played guitar in his own bands and founded the Blues Management Group in 1966, becoming America's only multiple winner of the W.C. Handy Award as well as numerous overseas business awards in the categories of agent, manager, and promoter. Tom represented many famous blues icons such as Jimmy Rogers, Phillip Walker, William Clarke, Otis Spann, and Sam Lay. Tom toured with his artists all over the world, including engagements for Jimmy Rogers with the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, and enjoyed the food and travel that those tours offered. In later years he was the founder of the Wisconsin Blues Society and was active with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Tom was an animal lover and will be greatly missed by his two cats, Jimmy and Philip, as well as many friends and family members. Tom is survived by his sister Ruth Ann (John) Powers, his nephew, Andrew (Megan) Powers, and his niece, Jessica (Andrew) Ludeman and her daughter, Evelyn. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Ruth Radai. Visitation at the Funeral Home Friday, from 4-7 PM, with a Prayer Service at 6:30 PM. Interment Forest Home Cemetery.