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“Chuck’s Music Shop” During Café Jazz Tuesdays on WKMS

Steve Short, Milan Mirror-Exchange, Milan TN

Director of Jazz Ensembles at Murray State and WKMS volunteer Dr. Todd Hill hosts Café Jazz Tuesdays from 9-11 p.m. Dr. Hill has introduced a new twenty-minute segment during Tuesday’s Café Jazz called “Chuck’s Music Shop.” The segment airs at 9:40 p.m. and the music is drawn from the personal jazz collection of the late Chuck Simons. 

Simons was the first instructor of percussion at Murray State University and a widely respected professional jazz set player, teacher and composer. He died in 1993. Roger Reichmuth, former Director of Music at Murray State, says that “Chuck had profound influence on musicians at Murray State University and on young musicians in the region from the mid-1940s throughout his lifetime. His boundless enthusiasm and passion for music and for teaching music was remarkable. Upon retirement from his music store business, he remained active as a player and songwriter.”

Hill adds, “Chuck’s love for jazz turned him into a "Jazz Educator" many decades before there was such a term. He took generations of young musicians under his wing, including myself. There's never a gig that I don't remember something he taught me!”

The “Chuck’s Music Shop” segment on Tuesday’s Café Jazz airs weekly through summer 2013 and features artists from Simons’ personal collection including Nat King Cole, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie. WKMS broadcasts to over 20,000 listeners weekly in western Kentucky, southernmost Illinois and northwestern Tennessee.

The station's public media services include 91.3 WKMS-FM, Murray; WKMS HD-1 and All-Music HD-2; 90.9 WKMD and WKMD HD-1 and HD-2, Madisonville; 89.5 WKMT, Fulton; 99.5 Paris, Tenn., and All-Music 92.5 Paducah and 105.1 Madisonville. The station also offers both channels WKMS HD-1 and HD-2 at wkms.org, where regular weekly schedules of programs are available. Listeners with questions can call 1-800-599-4737 during regular business hours.

Contact:  Membership Coordinator Jenni Todd (270-809-4748 or jtodd14@murraystate.edu)

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Jenni holds a degree in Music Education from Murray State University and a Masters degree in Arts Administration from Florida State University's College of Music. She's equipped with knowledge and enthusiasm for fundraising and the arts. She also serves as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and on the Murray Independent School District Foundation for Excellence Board of Directors.
Todd E. Hill is the Director of Jazz Ensembles at Murray State University. He holds both the BMEd and MMEd degrees from MSU, and an EdD from Boise State University. He held positions in the public schools of Milan, Tennessee, Northwest Mississippi Community College, Boise State University, and University of the Cumberlands, where he served as Director of Bands before returning to his alma mater. He has been guest conductor for concert and jazz honor groups in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Idaho, Washington, Montana, Oregon and Nevada.
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