Sonny Melendrez is in the business of inspiration.
Motivating others has always been an important element in the life of this dynamic radio and television personality, author and inspirational speaker.
Twice named Billboard Magazine‘s “National Radio Personality of the Year,” his enthusiasm for life is evident as host of local and national radio and television programs. He was presented the National Hispanic Radio Personality of the Year Award by Ricardo Montalban, then president of the National Nosotros Organization. In 2003, he was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall Of Fame and is included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as one of the Top 100 Radio Personalities of All-Time.
Melendrez has served as program director and entertained at some of America’s greatest radio stations, including KIIS, KMPC, KFI, KMGG, and KRLA in Los Angeles and KTSA,KTFM, KSMG, and KLUP in San Antonio. Under his leadership, these stations enjoyed stellar ratings and received countless awards for public service. His weekly radio show features the inspiring stories of celebrity guests from the world of entertainment.
Blessed with multiple talents, Sonny is equally at home as a TV host, actor, radio personality, writer, commercial spokesman, motivational speaker, or voice artist. He has served as TV and radio spokesperson for companies like Disney, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Sears and Sprint.
As a motivational speaker and master of ceremonies, he has presented at such prestigious events as the White House Hispanic Heritage Awards (7 times); 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 television series, “You and Me, Kid!” on the Disney Channel, Sonny enjoyed one of the longest runs in the network’s history.
He was named Inc. Magazine’s “Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year,” awarded the “Marketing Philanthropist Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Sales and Marketing Executives of San Antonio and named Alignable’s 2017 San Antonio Small Business Person of the Year.
As the Los Angeles commissioner of the United Nation’s Year of the Child, Melendrez was invited to Washington, D.C. to present his idea for a national children’s holiday. Sunshine Day was officially proclaimed and celebrated in all 50 states on August 19th of that year, encouraging parents to spend the day, with their children, giving them what they most want and need: time and love.
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, benefiting disadvantaged youth and families, including over 1400 motivational school presentations.
President Ronald Reagan commended Sonny for his efforts in the war on drugs and he received the National Director’s Community Leadership Award by FBI Director, William S. Sessions. The Department of Justice lauded him with the prestigious “Modern Hero Award” for his efforts to inspire the nation’s youth to “Soar In School”. In recognition of raising tens of thousands of dollars for youth scholarships, he was named “El Rey Feo” (The People’s King) and presided over San Antonio’s annual weeklong Fiesta celebration.
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 of the World Project, giving talented youth and countless volunteers a way to give back by recording the children’s version of “We Are The World,” which 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.”
There is hardly a charity or cause in San Antonio and many nationally, that has not received a helping hand from Sonny Melendrez. It is estimated that he has been responsible for raising over 100 million dollars in cash, goods and services for local and national non-profits during his career!
As a public servant, he’s played a major role in countless city, county and state projects in the past 25 years, including his service as Bexar County Chairman of the 2010 Census.
A man of a thousand voices, he provided the voices of several characters in Hanna-Barbera’s “Jetsons” cartoon series; created many of the sounds heard in the Gremlins Movie; 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 70”s NBC TV series, Baretta. He was chosen from a field of over 140,000 as the new voice of the Parkay Margarine Talking Tub, and after a nationwide search, Sonny was picked as voice of Jerry Seinfeld for a campaign promoting the Bee Movie Game for ActiVision.
Conferences, companies, colleges, universities, school districts, and groups of all types have been inspired by Sonny’s captivating motivational presentations. His topics are designed to fire up companies, teachers, students, and parents to get involved and make a difference in the world around them, while delivering above-and-beyond service.
In his popular book, “The Art of Living with Enthusiasm!”, Sonny presents the benefits to be found in positive living through personal and powerful stories of encouragement, comfort, and joy.
See: Awards & Honors
