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Ben Fong-Torres

Author, Broadcaster & Music Journalist

Author, Broadcaster & Music Journalist

Travels From Travels From:
San Francisco, CA, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
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Ben Fong-Torres Biography

Ben Fong-Torres is an American rock journalist, author, and broadcaster best known for his association with Rolling Stone magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle. He was a real-life character in the 2000 movie, Almost Famous, and the subject of the award-winning 2022 documentary on Netflix, Like a Rolling Stone: The Life and Times of Ben Fong-Torres.

He was honored by the Critics Circle Awards as one of the nine “most compelling living subjects of a documentary, alongside Dr. Anthony Fauci, Rita Moreno, Val Kilmer and Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Fong-Torres, who graduated from San Francisco State University in 1966 with a B.A. in radio-TV-film, was a writer and senior editor of Rolling Stone nearly from the magazine's inception. He conducted interviews of entertainment figures including Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Steve Martin and Linda Ronstadt. He also profiled Elton John, Sly and the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, Bonnie Raitt, Diane Keaton and Rodney Dangerfield. A Fong-Torres interview with Ray Charles was awarded the Deems Taylor Award for Magazine Writing.

Fong-Torres was also a DJ for the pioneer San Francisco radio station KSAN-FM in the 1970s. He later hosted a live, weekly entertainment and talk show, Fog City Radio, on NPR affiliate KQED-FM. On television, he won five Emmy Awards as co-anchor of the Chinese New Year Parade broadcast on KTVU.

He has published ten books, including "Hickory Wind," a biography of Gram Parsons; "The Rice Room," a best-selling memoir; "The Hits Just Keep on Coming," a history of Top 40 radio, and two compilations of past articles, "Not Fade Away" and "Becoming Almost Famous." His book with the Doors "The Doors By The Doors" was published in November 2006, and he published "The Grateful Dead Scrapbook" in 2009. Fong-Torres authored "Eagles: Taking It to the Limit" and "Willin': The Story of Little Feat."

For 15 years beginning July 2005, Fong-Torres wrote the column "Radio Waves" in the San Francisco Chronicle. He has written for numerous publications, including GQ, Esquire, Playboy, MOJO, Parade, Travel + Leisure, and the New York Times. Since 2016, he has been program director and DJ for the online Moonalice Radio.

Fong-Torres was inducted into the SF State Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004. He is also a member of the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame. He and Dianne, his wife, live in San Francisco.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/03/2024.

Ben Fong-Torres Videos

  • Interview with Rock journalist Ben Fong-Torres - YouTube
  • Ben Fong-Torres on Jerry Garcia at the San Francisco Public Library ...
  • The Early Days of Rolling Stone - Ben Fong-Torres - YouTube

Ben Fong-Torres Books

  • The Eagles: Take It To The Limit
    The Eagles: Take It To The Limit
  • Willin': The Story of Little Feat
    Willin': The Story of Little Feat
  • The Rice Room: Growing Up Chinese-American from Number Two Son to Rock 'n' Roll
    The Rice Room: Growing Up Chinese-American from Number Two Son to Rock 'n' Roll
  • The Doors
    The Doors
  • Becoming Almost Famous: My Back Pages in Music Writing and Life
    Becoming Almost Famous: My Back Pages in Music Writing and Life
  • Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons
    Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons

FAQs on booking Ben Fong-Torres

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  • What are the speaker fees for Ben Fong-Torres

    Speaking fees for Ben Fong-Torres, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ben Fong-Torres are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ben Fong-Torres, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Ben Fong-Torres speak about?

    Ben Fong-Torres is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Asian & Pacific Heritage, Authors, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Entertainment, Journalism, Literary, Music, News & Media, Virtual.
  • Where does Ben Fong-Torres travel from?

    Ben Fong-Torres generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Ben Fong-Torres’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Ben Fong-Torres for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ben Fong-Torres for your next private or corporate function.
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    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Ben Fong-Torres is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Ben Fong-Torres for your event is $5,000 - $10,000. Ben Fong-Torres generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Helen Zia, Arnold Myint, Sophie Santos, Helen Hong and Brittany Ishibashi. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ben Fong-Torres for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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