John Hightower
Host of Brass, Reeds and PercussionBorn in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1951, John moved to Huntsville in 1975, where he worked for a communications training firm. From 1997 to 2022, John worked for the Lanier Ford law firm. During his tenure, He served as Lanier Ford's law librarian, marketing specialist, trainer, and professional recruiter.
From 7th grade to 12th grade, John was involved in band (he played flute and piccolo), a fact that explains his fascination with band music.
John graduated from Mississippi State University (MSU) with a degree in communications and from the University of Mississippi with a law degree. While attending MSU, he worked in professional radio in Starkville for WSSO and WSMU-FM (sister stations). While attending law school in Oxford, John worked for WSUH and WOOR-FM (sister stations). .He served as program director at both sets of stations. Radio was always a lot of fun for him, and he said, "I can't believe how lucky I am to be working in radio again."
John says he has big shoes to fill in following Darryl Adams as host of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion. Darryl passed away on October 18, 2011. But since that time, John has continued a Huntsville tradition at 1 p.m. every Saturday on WLRH.
Thank you, Darryl Adams, for the many wonderful years you dedicated to WLRH. You are missed!
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In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States Army, this edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion airs only performances by U.S. Army bands and only compositions by American composers. -
This edition features opera music and a big hit from 1941, but opens with "Colchester Castle March" by the British composer Alfred Young.
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This edition includes marches, opera music, arrangements of English folks songs. and a wind-band transcription of Maurice Ravel's “Spanish Rhapsody.”
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This edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion features somber and contemplative music in recognition of Memorial Day.
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This edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion features original Baroque wind-band music played on baroque oboes and bassoons and natural trumpets and horns.
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This edition features original Renaissance wind-band music played on cornetts and sackbuts.
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This edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion features an 1810 harmonie arrangement of the Beethoven’s Sonata 8, more frequently called the Sonata Pathetique.
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This edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion features John Philip Sousa’s first published march from 1873 and wind-band arrangements of Renaissance music by Thielman Susato.
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This edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion features the music of Joachim Raff, a German composer born in Switzerland. During the late 1800s, Raff was one of most popular of Romantic composers, ranked with Brahms and Wagner.
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This special edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion features the compositions of Colonel Professor Hannes Apfolterer of the Austrian Armed Forces.
