Kacky Walton
Classical Music HostI owe my radio career to the Ford Motor Company. My daddy had a Ford dealership in our hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi, and he thought it would be cute if his 7-year old daughter did his radio commercials. The pay wasn't great, just a pack of Wrigley's gum, but I was hooked on radio from then on.
I majored in Theater at Ole Miss, and really enjoyed the stage, but I always came back to radio. Now I have the best of both worlds: Everyday I get to create and host a classical music show and talk to fascinating people from the art world, and I get my theater fix when I host previews of Playhouse on the Square's musicals on Friday Live Lunch. Who could ask for anything more?
When I'm not doing radio, I love hanging out with my sweet rescue dog, who got his name from The Kinks song, “Do You Remember Walter”, from the album “Village Green Preservation Society”. I have to thank my late husband for that one. Walter is, without a doubt, the most handsome boy on the planet, and completely deserves having his own theme song. I also love putting on loud music and having my own little throw-down dance party from time to time. Not sure is Walter is so keen on that. He gives me funny looks sometimes.
I started playing the piano at age 2, and began classical training at age 5. Having gone without a piano for a large chunk of time has made me pretty rusty, but now that I have it again, I'm working on getting the old chops back. Things that I can't do without: TV, a good movie, and yummy food and wine. Also any book by John Irving. And Tab.
I don't get paid in gum anymore, and I don't make big bucks either, but I do get to wake up in the morning excited about working for a radio station that matters. I get to work for public radio! How did a girl from Clarksdale get so lucky?
-
Kacky Walton has a conversation with Claire Rutkauskas, Director of Programs at Creative Aging Mid-South about an upcoming performance in their monthly Concert Series.
-
Kacky Walton talks with Marcellus Harper, Executive Director of Collage Dance Collective and its Artistic Director Kevin Thomas. Collage Dance Collective was recently named, “a Southern Cultural Treasure” by South Arts and The Ford Foundation.
-
Kacky Walton has a conversation with Dr. Ronald Vernon, Music Director and Conductor of Germantown Symphony Orchestra.
-
Kacky Walton talks with Courtney Oliver, Director of Special Events and Auditions at Playhouse on the Square.
-
Kacky Walton spoke with Micah Winter of Friends of George's and Irene Crist, who is directing the production “Out in the Woods: FOG Fairytales”, running now through Saturday, April 20 at Evergreen Theatre.
-
Kacky Walton has a conversation with director Angel Clark and actor Cleavon Meabon, discussing Hattiloo Theatre’s upcoming production of the Tony-nominated musical “Blues in the Night.”
-
Kacky Walton talks with local artist Jim Henderson, whose paintings are being shown alongside those of Sandra Carpenter in “Our Expressions Art Exhibition” at the Memphis Botanic Garden this April.
-
Kacky Walton talks with Germantown Community Theatre's (GCT) executive director Marques Brown and Jari Head, the lead actor of GCT's upcoming production of the Olivier and Tony Award-winning play, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.”
-
Kacky Walton talks with Phyllis Boger, a member of Artists’ Link, a resource and support organization for visual artists.
-
Kacky Walton has a conversation with Kell Christie and Susan Brindley. Kell is directing Terrance McNally’s “Master Class” at Theatre Memphis, and Susan is taking on the role of opera diva Maria Callas.