Scenic Roots

(The Ed Johnson Project) In this conversation, LaFrederick Thirkill and Kevin Bate discuss the violent mob that took Ed Johnson from his cell in the Hamilton County Jail on the night of March 19th, 1906 - and took his life on the Walnut St. Bridge.

(@professormdc / Twitter) Richard Winham speaks with Prof. Michelle Commander of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York - editor of “Unsung:  Unheralded Narratives of American Slavery & Abolition.”      

(Bessie Smith Cultural Center) “Bessie’s Front Porch” features community members reading children’s books to spur dialogue on race relations. The digital series from the Bessie Smith Cultural Center here in Chattanooga debuted last year - and it is back for this Black History Month. Here’s part of Dionne Jenkins reading “The Day You Begin” - by Jacqueline Woodson. Watch the entire readings from “B...

(sandmountainpottery.com) Starting Friday, the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts here in Chattanooga holds its annual Antiques Show and Sale at Stratton Hall. The three-day, socially-distanced fundraiser will feature an appraisal fair - and a presentation by Danny Maltbie, a collector of sand mountain pottery in Albertville, Alabama.   Amy Autenreith is the executive director of the Houston Museum...

For seven-and-a-half years, David Butler has led Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga as its president and CEO. Next month, he will be retiring.   His work at Habitat includes a community partnership with Parkridge Medical Center, United Way of Greater Chattanooga and Marvene Noel and her neighbors to renovate homes in the Orchard Knob area.

(green|spaces) This month, a green vision for Chattanooga’s future was unveiled for the next mayor and city council to consider. The draft of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan took two years for a group of environmental, business and community leaders to complete. Among its goals for Chattanooga:  zero waste citywide by 2035, carbon neutral by 2050 - and equitable food production and di...

A community-wide vision for Chattanooga’s green future. David Butler of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga. Talking Writing:  Prof. Michelle Commander on “Unsung.” These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”          

(Houseworth Photography) Richard Winham shares the second part of a performance by Samson and Delilah with Rebecca O’Quinn and Franklin Keel for the Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series at the Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC.      

(dk-studio.com) In our latest host-to-host conversation about our Sounds of the Southeast - weekends here on WUTC - Richard Winham is “Talkin’ The Blues” with Microwave Dave Gallaher of our public radio neighbor WLRH in Huntsville, AL.

Microwave Dave Gallaher, host of WLRH’s “Talkin’ The Blues.” Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series:  Samson and Delilah, Part II. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”  

(exploreasheville.com) Richard Winham shares the first part of a performance by Samson and Delilah with Rebecca O’Quinn and Franklin Keel for the Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series at the Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC.

(The Pop-up Project) Here in Chattanooga, the performers of The Pop-up Project are known for their immersive events and site-specific films that tell the stories of our community. While they have had to adjust during this pandemic, their art moves forward. Mattie Waters Cofield and Jules Downum are the Project’s co-founders and co-directors - and the co-directors of the upcoming film, “The Light W...

If you’ve heard the Sounds of the Southeast on the weekends here on WUTC, you’ve heard Amy Campbell.   She is the host and producer of “The Tennessee Farm Table” and “Sweetgrass” - Saturdays from 2 PM to 3 PM on this station - originating from East Tennessee’s own WDVX in Knoxville.  “Farm Table” shares the stories of the people who produce, preserve and present the food of this region - while “Sw...

Amy Campbell of “Tennessee Farm Table” & “Sweetgrass.” The Pop-up Project’s  Mattie Waters Cofield & Jules Downum. Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series:  Samson & Delilah, Part I. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”          

(sonsofserendip.com) Sons of Serendip describes itself as a “gospel / classical / neo-soul / R&B / fusion quartet that sings beautiful songs.” Richard Winham shares a performance by the ensemble, celebrating 25 years of the Massachusetts-based label Signature Sounds.

(newspapers.com) In this conversation, the Rev. Paul McDaniel, Eleanor McCallie Cooper and Donivan Brown talk about the members of the St. James Baptist Church who came to the Hamilton County Jail and baptized Ed Johnson in a bathtub filled with water on the last Sunday of his life.

“Bessie’s Front Porch” features community members reading children’s books to spur dialogue on race relations. The digital series from the Bessie Smith Cultural Center here in Chattanooga debuted last year - and it is back every day online throughout February for Black History Month. Here’s Judge Curtis Collier reading “Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Doreen Rappaport....

(acousticet.com / YouTube) Richard Winham speaks with acoustic singer / songwriter Eric "E.T." Turner on this week’s “Talking Writing.”

( EricTop10.Com) People who are ages 55 and older and looking to work have an opportunity to receive paid job training. Kimberly Crider at Chattanooga Goodwill Industries runs the Senior Community Service Employment Program.

(Trip Advisor) The pandemic forced Songbirds Guitar Museum in downtown Chattanooga to close the doors on its operations for good last summer. But now, there are new plans for that space.   Reed Caldwell is executive director of the Songbirds Foundation.  

What’s next for the Songbirds space in Chattanooga. A Goodwill program offers paid job training for older workers. Talking Writing:  Eric Turner, acoustic singer / songwriter. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”          

(Isis Music Hall) Richard Winham shares a performance of Bygone Blues with singer Peggy Ratusz and pianist Aaron Price from the Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series for the Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC.

This weekend - here on WUTC - Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga presents the radio drama “Grenadine” from the play by Neil Wechsler. You’ll hear it this Saturday at 7 PM on ETC’s “Digital Theatre Showcase,” a new monthly program on our own “Moon Dog Matinee.” I spoke with Neil Wechsler - who is a playwright, a filmmaker and a mixed media artist based in Buffalo, New York. Listen to “Grenadine” this...

Here on our campus - the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - Susan Eckelmann Berghel is an associate director of history and current director of UTC’s Africana Studies program. This semester, she is teaching a course titled:  “History of White Rage.”

UTC History Prof. Susan Eckelmann Berghel on “white rage.”  Neil Wechsler’s play “Grenadine” - coming to ETC on WUTC. Mountain Spirit:  Bygone Blues with Peggy Ratusz & Aaron Price. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”