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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?
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Kacky Walton talks with Jonathan McCarter, Artistic Director of Memphis Jewish Community Center’s new Theatre Conservatory.
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Kacky Walton talks with Richard Townley, Choirmaster and Assistant Organist at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, and mezzo-soprano Karen Showalter Cooper.
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Kacky Walton has a conversation with Cole Early, Content and Archives Manager at Overton Park Shell.
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Kacky Walton talks with Mia Henley, Executive Director of Creative Aging Mid-South, which enriches older adults’ lives by bringing music and the arts to places where seniors live and gather.
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Kacky Walton talks with Claire Kolheim, director of the World Premiere of Coco Queens, which has opened at TheatreWorks@The Square and runs through Sunday, July 28.
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Kacky Walton talks with Jamie Boller-Raup and Eliana Mabe about Germantown Community Theatre’s upcoming production of “Antigone Or And Still She Must Rise Up.”
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Kacky Walton talked with fiber artist Angela Schneider and photographer and watercolorist Frederique Zindy about Tennessee Craft Southwest’s Fine Craft Showcase, on view through Friday, July 26, at WKNO’s Gallery 1091.
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Kacky Walton has a conversation with the owner of Eads Gallery, Butch Boehm, and Jimmy Crosthwaite, an artist, musician, and puppeteer.
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Kacky Walton talks with Carlee Zamora, the Adult Education Coordinator at the Memphis Botanic Garden, and Phyllis Boger with Artists’ Link about the “Incognito Art Auction.”
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Kacky Walton talks with Executive Director of LoneTree Live Julia Hinson about the 3rd annual “The 24 Hour Plays: Memphis.”