Bill Beckett

Program Director

     Bill became Program Director for Red River Radio in January 2010. He is an honors graduate from Bowling Green State University in Ohio where he was also inducted into the Golden Key National Honor Society. He began his professional career in 1985 as Traffic Manager and Recording Engineer for WGTE-FM in Toledo Ohio, where he later served as Operations Manager. While in Ohio he taught beginning and advanced multi-track recording studio techniques at his Alma Mater, Bowling Green State University. In 1990 Bill accepted the position as Program Director for WUFT-FM in Gainesville Florida, serving there for 19 years. He is a seasoned radio producer of both music and documentaries programs and has been honored with numerous awards over his career from the Ohio Educational Broadcasters, the Florida Associated Press, the National Association of Community Broadcasters, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Council on Contemporary Families, and The Radio and Television News Directors Association. In 2000 he was a co-recipient National Edward R. Murrow Award: Best Documentary for the program Apalachicola Doin’ Time, along with co-producer Donna Green-Townsend and student associate producers Daniel Beasley and Joshua Azriel. He was co-recipient of a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for the documentaries Ground Water Garrison  (2003) and The Long Road  (2007). 
     Bill has a passion for art, music, theatre, literature, and film. He also has a keen interest in history, the sciences, and politics and he brings this broad range of interests and knowledge to his role as Programmer and Producer. 

 

Pages

10:01am

Tue November 27, 2012
10:01 Spotlight

10:01 Spotlight: Jazz Concert & Clinic

Bill Beckett talks with John Howe, President of the American Federation of Musicians Local 116 and Bill Causey, owner of Band House about their annual Jazz Concert and Clinic which takes place tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Parkway High School auditorium. The concert and clinic are free for any students who wish to attend and $5.00 for adults. The concert and clinic feature Mike Williams, a Shreveport native and lead trumpet player for the Count Basie Orchestra for over 20 years; Gary Meggs, former alto and tenor saxophone player with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Director of Instrumental Music at the University of Arkansas and C. E. Askew, drummer with the renowned U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble for 26 years.  More info at 868-0522.

Read more

2:00pm

Sat November 24, 2012
Cultural, Community, Information

Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival 40th Anniversary

Airs Saturday, November 24 at 2:00 p.m. Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival has become one of the world's preeminent music festivals, guided by a visionary spirit and dedicated to artistic excellence and innovation.  With legendary cellist Pablo Casals as honorary president, the Festival's 1973 inaugural season hosted 14 artists performing six Sunday concerts in Santa Fe and additional appearances in other New Mexico and Arizona communities.  Today, 40 summers later, under the spirited artistic leadership of composer/pianist Marc Neikrug, the Festival invites scores of distinguished musicians, along with emerging young talent, during its 6-week season.  The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival has garnered enthusiastic acclaim not only from music lovers, but also from art aficionados with its 20-year series of collectible posters and program book covers of Georgia O'Keeffe paintings, the tradition continues with other artists, including Dan Namingha, William Lumpkins, Harry Fonsecca, Nils Hogner, Laura Gilpin, William Penhallow Henderson and Emmi Whitehorse.

10:01am

Wed November 21, 2012
Cultural, Community, Information

10:01 Spotlight: Tipitina Foundation's 'Instruments are Comin' Benefit Concert

Bill Beckett talks with Kathy Melancon about the "Instruments A Comin" Concert on Saturday, November 24 at 8:00 p.m. featuring country music legend and Shreveport native Kix Brooks who returns home for this benefit concert. He'll be joined by blues sensation Sonny Landreth for the show at Shreveport's Historic Municipal Auditorium. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Tipitina Foundation's "Instruments are Comin" program which will be dedicated to the Shreveport-Bossier Parish Schools to buy new high quality instruments for their Music Education programs.

Read more

10:01am

Fri November 9, 2012
10:01 Spotlight

10:01 Spotlight: Lake Bistineau State Park'S 'Loop' Program

Credit Bistineau State Park

Bill Beckett talks with Mark Massom, the interpretive ranger at Lake Bistineau State Park about the ongoing Louisiana Outdoor Outreach Program for kids that takes place at the Park as well, as well as other uncoming events including an archeological dig that will take place on Saturday November 17.  For more information about the park and events contact them at 318-745-3503 or on Facebook at Lake Bistineau.

Read more

11:56pm

Mon October 22, 2012
Cultural, Community, Information

Steve Howell live From Red River Radio

Airs Wednesday, October 17 at 8:00 p.m. Guitarist Steve Howell joins hosts Wally Derleth and Bill Beckett for a live show on Red River Radio. Howell presents a delicate blend of roots music from country, blues and rockabilly to torch songs. In 2011, his CD "Since I Saw You Last" was awarded the Historical Significance Award from the Academy of Texas Music. Support live, local music on the radio. Tune in for this exciting show and make your pledge at 800-552-8502 or On Line Here.

Pages