Sonny Melendrez

Sonny Melendrez was born to inspire.

Making people happy has always been an important element in the life of this dynamic radio, television and Internet personality. He has entertained audiences around the world with his message of corporate and personal social responsibility.

His presentations are designed to inspire company team members to go above and beyond the call of duty, thereby lifting moral and encouraging daily excellence.

This is a theme he has brought to the airwaves for over three decades.

Twice named Billboard Magazine's "National Radio Personality of the Year," his enthusiasm for life is evident as host of various radio and television programs. He has the honor of being included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as one of the Top 100 Radio Personalities Of All Time and was recently inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

Radio being his first love, Melendrez has hosted drive time shows at some of America's greatest radio stations, including KIIS, KMPC, KFI, KMGG AND KRLA in Los Angeles.

Blessed with multiple talents, Sonny is equally at home serving as TV host, actor, radio personality, writer, commercial spokesman, comedian, motivational speaker, or cartoon voice artist. His inventiveness and energetic style make him a much-sought-after performer.

A high level of credibility has made him a popular TV and radio spokesperson for companies like Disney, Pepsi, McDonald's, Sears and Sprint PCS, to name a few.

He has hosted or been featured speaker at such prestigious events as the White House Hispanic Heritage Awards; the National "Just Say No To Drugs" Rally at the Washington Monument; and the USO 50th Anniversary Gala at the Ambassador's Palace in Paris, France with guest of honor, the late Princess Grace of Monaco.

As host of the award winning children's series, 'You And Me, Kid," on the Disney Channel, Sonny displayed his natural talent for working with children.

Sonny's ability and willingness to rally people behind a cause is one reason he is involved in so many charities, both locally and nationally. He was named Inc. Magazine's "Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year." President Reagan commended Sonny for his efforts in the war on drugs.

The City of San Antonio named the Sonny Melendrez Community Center located on the city's West Side in his honor as way to say "thank you" for his community involvement.

Programs that benefit children have always been a priority for Sonny Melendrez.One of the projects of which he is most proud is the children's version of "We Are The World" he created in Los Angeles in 1985. Over 1500 children participated in the recording and video, and proceeds from record sales benefited USA For Africa. Sonny received a Grammy nomination for "Best Children's Recording."

The Sonny Melendrez Children's Foundation was created in 1998 to help disabled and disadvantaged youth in San Antonio. It is estimated that he has helped to raise over 100 million dollars in cash, goods and services for local and national charities during the last 25 years.

Sonny is truly the man of a thousand voices. As a teenager he discovered an uncanny ability to imitate and create character voices. He has provided the voices of several characters in Hanna-Barbera's "Jetsons" cartoon series; created many of the sounds heard in the Gremlins movie; was the bug who yelled "Oh, no! It's RAAAAAID!" in the popular TV commercial; played opposite Walter Mathau as the voice of Bob Cratchet in the animated TV classic, "The Stingiest Man in Town"; and was even the voice of the infamous Fred the Cockatoo in the 70s TV series starring Robert Blake. Recently he was chosen from a field of over 140,000 as the new voice of the Parkay Margarine Talking Tub!

Colleges, universities, and corporate groups of all types have found Sonny to be an extremely effective and entertaining motivational speaker. His muliti- talents and voices can inspire students and professionals to use their resources to make a difference in our quality of life.