McNeese professors Miles, Lemke host radio show on KBYS-FM
McNeese professors Ray Miles and Jeff Lemke combine their love of academia and rock ’n’ roll into a weekly radio program called “School of Rock,” broadcast on the university radio station KBYS-FM (88.3).
The hosts are a complementary pair, both falling on opposite sides of the question of “Beatles or Rolling Stones?”
Miles, director of the Doré School of Graduate Studies and a professor of history, is the Rolling Stones. He said he discovered his love for music through listening to the lyrics.
“I remember sitting with the lyrics sheet, reading and listening … and that’s how I started getting hooked on music,” Miles said. “In direct contrast to (Lemke), I have zero music talent.”
Lemke, a professor of music, teaches an entire course on the Beatles. He grew up playing in a horn band and describes himself as more of a “music guy” compared with Miles.
Lemke and Miles build their show around broad themes, including the development and history of rock music, artist spotlights, and national months and events.
Show topics include the intersection of rock music and the civil rights movement; which 1970s records to have on a desert island; and women rockers in the 1980s.
They also highlight local artists and encourage listeners to check out local shows and venues.
“You can listen to a record 10 times, and you haven’t really heard it until you hear it live,” Miles said.
The show, he said, originally began as stress relief.
“It just happened to be on the university campus,” Miles said. “And it’s for the good of the university because it has that educational component.”
Lemke said he mostly does the show for research purposes.
“I’ve discovered a lot of things, which at times I’ve been able to bring into the classroom,” Lemke said.
“Students like little trivial things every so often — to realize that who you thought the drummer was and then you find out it was played by the producer. Those little things are sometimes what students remember about an experience or a song — the unusual.”
“School of Rock” is broadcast on McNeese State University radio station KBYS-FM (88.3). The show airs live at 11 a.m. Saturdays, with repeat broadcasts at 4 p.m. Sundays and 11 p.m. Wednesdays. Listeners can tune in at www.kbys.fm.