My documentary series for WUTC is online: The Musical History of Howard High, Tennessee and the 19th Amendment, The Battle of Lookout Mountain, and Southern Correspondent

I thought I'd share these here in case anyone wants to listen. I've been doing different radio shows for WUTC over the last couple of years about local music. The one I do now is called Scenic Sounds on Saturdays from Noon-2, featuring a mix of local music, interviews, and historical documentaries. Those are my favorite, but they're very time consuming to make. Thankfully ArtsBuild gave me an artist grant do a documentary series about local history, music and culture. I think they're some quality radio, and totally worth checking out...

The Musical History of Howard High School

Howard began in the 1860s during the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. It continued through the 1960s, when student led sit-in protests helped to desegregate the city, and still continues today as the student body has evolved to reflect demographic changes in Chattanooga and America.  Over that century and a half, the music of Howard High has been a huge part of its legacy. The story is told through oral history recordings from the Downtown Chattanooga Public Library with Rosa McGhee, Claude Bond, and James Mapp. It features the music of Joyce Mathis, the Impressions, the Cupids, Booker T. Scruggs, Roland Carter, Dexter Bell, and more.
https://www.wutc.org/show/scenic-sounds/2025-10-16/the-musical-history-of-howard-high-school

Tennessee and the 19th Amendment. 
In 1920 Tennessee became the 36th and final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment and secure voting rights for American women. Local activist Abby Crawford Milton played a pivotal role in that fight and tells her own story by way of an oral history recording.  Featuring the music of women in Chattanooga today like Catherine Campbell, Tigris Nevans, Jessica Nicole Brown, Emily Kate Boyd, BEMI, Sunny War, Alva Leigh, Call Me Spinster and Dollars Family.
https://www.wutc.org/show/scenic-sounds/2025-11-11/tennessee-and-the-19th-amendment

Southern Correspondent:  The Story of John Popham

In 1947 the New York Times decided to reassign its top beat reporter to cover unfolding changes in the South -- civil rights changes, but also educational, industrial and environmental changes. That reporter was John Popham, and he was stationed in Chattanooga. He stayed for decades and eventually became the managing editor for the Chattanooga Times. Hear his unique story as told through an oral history recording from the Downtown Chattanooga Public Library.  Featuring the music of Jimmie Blanton, bassist for Duke Ellington's orchestra and Chattanoogan.
https://www.wutc.org/show/scenic-sounds/2025-11-03/southern-correspondent-the-story-of-john-popham

The Battle of Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain and its role in the Civil War have inspired many different songs over the years. From songs of that era to songs today that use Lookout Mountain as a metaphor for contemporary conflicts. Hear the story of the Battle of Lookout Mountain as told by Gilbert Govan, National Parks Historian, from a lecture series he gave at Point Park in 1974. Featuring the music of Drive-by Truckers, Ilgen-Nur, Bahari, Uncle Tupelo, and more.
https://www.wutc.org/show/scenic-sounds/2025-10-16/the-battle-of-lookout-mountain

I've got some other good episodes posted recently that are also worth checking out. I interviewed Tee Bumpass, a local musician who played with some Motown bands and toured with some great artists. Bob Stagner told me the story of the Shaking Ray Levi Society, and all the amazing artists they've brought to Chattanooga over the last 40 years. And I got to interview the Mayor about his passion for playing the drums. I put together a local band to back him up, and let him pick a couple of songs for us to jam on.

Thanks!

https://www.wutc.org/show/scenic-sounds