Todd Steed

Since: 2026 | Position: Contributor | Location: Knoxville | Page Views: 2,483

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About Me

Todd is the host of Improvisations at WUOT-FM and is an active musician based in Knoxville.

A devout listener of all music from age 4, Todd was first turned on to the Beatles by his sisters and happily forced to sing their hits for visiting friends and family. His parents shared their love of jazz with him and from there he found his way to Monk, Mingus, Ella, Miles, Ron Miles and beyond. He toured nationally with his bands Smokin' Dave and the Premo Dopes and The Suns of Phere. On the road he was able to find more chances to explore jazz, including key live shows by Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Sun Ra and more. For a period he worked with AC Entertainment (Big Ears, Bonnaroo) where served as day-to-day manager for Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck and the Sparrow Quartet. Todd found his dream job at WUOT in Knoxville, where he hosted Improvisations for 19 years and eventually served as the program director. Todd was inducted into the East Tennessee Writer's Hall of Fame in 2023. He was also recently honored with the UT School of Journalism and Media 2024 Alumni of the Year Award.

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Cecile McLorin Salvant

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My Jazz Story

I first got into jazz just by hearing it on the radio as kid, notably on commercial AM radio! Eventually, my parents took me to New Orleans and that was that. My college roomies hipped me to Mingus, Monk, Miles and all the greats. Visiting Papa Jazz in South Carolina got me more into Sun Ra, AAC and such goodies. I am the former program director at WUOT-FM in Knoxville and hosted a jazz show called Improvisations for 19 years. I love jazz because it is what freedom sounds like.