Wednesday, August 28, 2013

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies Jonathan Katz

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Jonathan Katz
This week Executive Director of the Arts Council, Al Head, talks with Jonathan Katz, long-time director of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies about issues of national interest and relevance including congressional funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. Other topics include the public value of the arts, the impact of the emerging digital revolution on the arts and the current emphasis on arts education. Katz was in Alabama recently speaking at a statewide leadership institute for directors of arts organizations. 

Alabama Bluesman Isaiah "Ike" Zimmerman

Alabama Bluesman Isaiah "Ike" Zimmerman
In June of 2011 a group of relatives came together in Alabama to commemorate a common bond, the late Isaiah "Ike" Zimmerman, an Alabama native originally from Grady. After making his home in Beauregard, Mississippi in the 1930s, he became a mentor to bluesman guitarist Robert Johnson. An accomplished blues guitarist and performer himself, Ike Zimmerman and his wife Ruth took Johnson into their home for over a year where Ike generously taught Johnson, then known as R.L., what he knew about the blues.  In this program Grey Brennan, Marketing Manager at the Alabama Department of Travel and Tourism and Steve Grauberger of ASCA interview two daughters of Ike Zimmerman, Loretha Z. Smith and Nelly Ruth Brown with their sons James Smith and Oscar Brown, to try and find more information about this interesting Alabamian and his relationship to Robert Johnson.

Legendary Louvin Brothers of Sand Mountain

This program is a broadcast of a 1989 Radiovisions production. It features Russell Gulley Executive Director of the Big Wills Arts Council interviewing Charlie Louvin of the legendary Louvin Brothers of Sand Mountain. The program includes a narrative history of the Louvins as well as various recordings made by them. Russell Gulley and the Big Wills Arts Council of Ft. Payne Alabama produced the Radiovisions series that were released originally on cassette tape.

Alabama Blues Project Summer Camp

Alabama Blues Project Summer Camp
This week Summer Upchurch interviews Alabama Blues Project Program Director Cara Lynn Teague and musician Bruce Andrewsabout the Alabama Blues Project's annual summer blues camp.