Tom Ball
Host and Marketing RepresentativeTom Ball is the host of 'Homespun' on WCMU, and is also a marketing representative for the station. He is responsible for securing program sponsorships for both WCMU Public Radio and WCMU Public Television.
Tom has been married for nearly 20 years to his lovely and talented wife Diana. They have one cat, and a yard full of beautiful flowers (no thanks to him!). Tom has been associated with WCMU for over 35 years, doing everything from fundraising, to filling in for vacationing staff members, to even taking out the trash!
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…Western Swing music is a combination of Jazz, Blues, Country and maybe even a little Rock N Roll! Tiny Moore, Jethro Burns, Asleep at the Wheel and Milton Brown and his Musical Brownies are fine examples of the genre’ you’ll hear on this week’s edition of Homespun. Tune in Sunday at 3PM and bring your dancin’ shoes! -
….The years 1972-1974 were very fruitful years for music. On the next Homespun, we’ll sample the likes of Taj Mahal, The Country Gentlemen, The Pointer Sisters and Paul Butterfield-all releasing landmark recordings during those two years. Tune in Sunday at 3PM to hear these and more! -
…The music of Bill Monroe has influenced countless musicians and bands for over 75 years. His recordings for the Decca label in the 1950’s propelled him to even greater stardom, and we’ll hear some of those tracks, and others who he influenced on Homespun, Sunday’s at 3PM! -
…Homespun this week puts together a couple artists who love the Carter Family: Dr. Ralph Stanley, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-We’ll also spend a little time in Chicago with the blues of Big Bill Broonzy and Homesick James, and we’ll hear from Grammy Award winners Los Lobos!Tune in Sundays at 3 PM! -
…This week on Homespun, we’ll hear a couple of classics from “Big Mon”-Bill Monroe via Michael Cleveland, and The Nashville Bluegrass Band-We’ll also visit a couple sides from Charlie Poole and His North Carolina Ramblers, and new music from the North Mississippi All-Stars, plus Robert Plant and Alison Krauss! Tune in Sundays at 3PM!
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…On the Easter Sunday broadcast of “Homespun”, we’ll celebrate the season with the County Gospel sounds of The Cox Family, JD Crowe, and Johnny Cash-we’ll also pay tribute to Mandolin player, teacher, and singer Roland White, who we recently lost; and finish with the traditional Gospel music of the Soul Stirrers, Fairfield Four, and The Swan Silvertones! Tune in for an Easter Sunday Homespun!
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…This week on Homespun, we kick off Easter Week & Palm Sunday with the gospel sounds of Laurie Lewis, Phyllis Boyens, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, plus The Dixie Hummingbirds! We also hear new music from Amos Lee, and finish with a new cut from Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert! Praise the Lord and pass the Music!
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…On the next edition of Homespun, we’ll take in some “live” Johnson Mountain Boys, some middle period music from The Seldom Scene, and a lovely duet from Ricky Skaggs and Tony Rice! We’ll also sample the blues harp stylings of Sonny Boy Williamson, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, and finish up with a classic Little Feat cover from Nicolette Larson! Tune in Sundays at 3PM!
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…This Week on Homespun we’ll visit the musical likes of Ron Stewart, Missy Armstrong, Detour, and new music from Carley Arrowood! We’ll also hear the Old Time Banjo of Chris Coole, a Civil War song from Eric Merrill and we’ll look back 50 years to Ry Cooder’s “Into the Purple Valley”! Tune in Sundays at 3!
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…This week on Homespun, we’ll dive back into the library to hear the likes of Keith & Rooney, The New Grass Revival, and the last release from the Bluegrass Album Band! We also get ready for St. Patrick’s Day with music from DeDannan, The Chieftains and Len Graham, plus we re-visit the year 1972 with Neil Young’s “Harvest”. Tune in Sunday at 3PM!
