Michael Krall
Program Director
If you’ve ever had a question or comment about the station’s programming, or were looking for a story from WBHM or NPR, chances are you’ve spoken with WBHM’s Program Director Michael Krall. His job includes managing the sound of the station -- from overseeing the on-air staff to curating the program schedule.
You can hear Michael hosting Morning Edition or All Things Considered from time to time, and listen out for his interviews with artists and other interesting people who make their way through Birmingham.
Michael came to WBHM in 1998 from WCBU in Peoria, Illinois. A graduate of the University of Maine, he’s spent his entire career in public radio working in WKNO in Memphis and WSCL in Salisbury, Maryland, as well as Maine Public Radio.
In his free time, Michael enjoys hiking, attending concerts, and playing Scrabble.
Birmingham School Board Gets Down To Business
The Birmingham school board finally gets down to business; and emotions run high as county commissioners look to close inpatient care at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital.
August 14 Morning Newscast
Jefferson County Circuit Judge Houston Brown rules that the Birmingham School Board must stop interfering in a state takeover of the school system; the Alabama Democratic Party will hold a hearing Friday on disqualifying Harry Lyon as the party's nominee for chief justice; and The Business Council of Alabama supports a proposed constitutional amendment to permit the removal of nearly $146 million a year for three years from a state trust fund for use in balancing the state General Fund budget.
August 13 Morning Newscast
The Jefferson County Commission votes tomorrow to close e inpatient care at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital by Oct. 1; Alabama lags in incentives for solar power; and a monument being built to honor Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest is stirring up controversy in Selma.
John Archibald on upheaval in Trussville and Birmingham Schools
There's been lots of upheaval recently in local schools. Monday, the Trussville Board of Education terminated the contract of superintendent Suzanne Freeman. Not to be outdone, the Birmingham Board of Education is staring down a meeting on Tuesday to consider the state's financial plan for the district.
Alabama Takes over Birmingham City Schools
With the state of Alabama now in control of Birmingham's school system, we talk about the details and delve into the political motivations of the school board.
The State of Journalism in Alabama
The face of journalism is changing in Alabama. Starting this Fall, The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register will publish print copies just three days a week.
Wilco Brings The Whole Love to Birmingham
In the last 15 years the members of alternative rock band Wilco have experienced the highs and lows of a performing life. And they keep coming back for more. Their latest is 'The Whole Love'. Wilco brings the show to Birmingham’s Sloss Furnaces tonight.
Act of Congress
Act of Congress is a Birmingham acoustic band who's unique sound is a combination of acoustic-folk-Americana. But on their new album, even band members Adam Wright and Chris Griffin admit the songwriting took them in a very different direction. WBHM's Michael Krall produced this audio postcard...
Capitol Journal Update
Few issues in Alabama politics right now have drawn such strong opinions as the state’s immigration law. This week, lawmakers held the first hearing this legislative session on possible changes to the law. We hear about that and other action in Montgomery this week from Don Dailey. He’s co-host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal.
StoryCorps
StoryCorps is an oral history project based on the idea that the stories of everyday people are the most important and interesting of all. Listen to stories from Alabamians.
Hilary Hahn interview
Not only is Hahn one of the world's top violinists, but several years ago she gave the world premier performance and recording of the Violin Concerto by Edgar Meyer. This weekend, with the ASO, Hilary Hahn revisits the Meyer Violin Concerto - a work that was specifically commissioned for her.
Justin Brown interview
In his sixth and final season, Justin Brown conducts the opening weekend of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks Series.
Matisyahu
It's not every day you come upon a Hasidic Jewish musician singing reggae about his religious devotion. But, in a nutshell, that describes Matisyahu. In 2006, he broke through with a top 10 hit and an album that sold more than half a million copies. In his early days, Matisyahu was Matthew Miller and he dropped out of high school to follow the band Phish. He spoke with WBHM's Michael Krall about the lessons learned during that time, as well as his religion and his music.
The Farewell Drifters
The band The Farewell Drifters were literally formed when Zach Bevill was stopped on the street in Nashville. The group plays harmonic roots music. WBHM's Michael Krall has their story...
Gil Shaham
Gil Shaham is widely considered to be one of the world's top violinists. This weekend, he performs Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Shaham recently spoke with WBHM's Michael Krall.
Alabama Symphony Orch. 2010-11 season
Music Director Justin Brown previews the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's 2010-2011 season which includes a world premier as well as a performance of all nine Beethoven symphonies...
Tokyo String Quartet
The Tokyo String Quartet has been making music for 41 years and shows no signs of slowing down. Tonight, the group plays in Birmingham.
The ASO plays Carnegie Hall
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra is one of six orchestras selected to play in Carnegie Hall as part of the Spring for Music festival in 2012.
Interview: Fred Schneider of The B-52’s
In the late 1970’s Athens, Georgia didn’t have much to offer in the way of music. One night, a group of friends were hanging out and decided to write a song. After all, it was something to do. A few months later, the B-52s were playing their first gig. Thirty-two years later they’re still making […]
Girlyman: “Really good, really unexpected, and really different.”
Imagine a modern-day Peter, Paul & Mary, only edgier...and with a quirky sense of humor, and you get the band Girlyman. Their songs are described as leading edge three-part harmony folk-pop. WBHM's Michael Krall spoke to Ty Greenstein about the group...
Steve Chiotakis leaving WBHM
WBHM's Steve Chiotakis will leave the station in October to take a network job with the Marketplace Morning Report.
WBHM 30th Anniversary
In celebration of WBHM's 30th anniversary year, meet some of the people who were there during the station's early years. WBHM officially signed on at Sunday, December 5, 1976 at 1 p.m. In this interview Michael Krall talks to Les Myers, WBHM's first Music Director...
Justin Brown
On November 17-18, guitarist David Starobin played contemporary music with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. One of the works is Paganini Variations by Poul Ruders. David Starobin spoke with WBHM's Michael Krall about the work.
On the Line: Mass Transit
On buses in Birmingham, getting from point to A to point B means mostly obstacles and frustration. Leaders have talked aboout mass transit for years, but putting it to work and funding it has been the real speed bump, despite calls to the contrary. On November 6th, WBHM broadcast a special two-hour discussion on the future of mass transit in the Birmingham area.
On the Line – education
Standardized testing... school overcrowding... teacher pay. WBHM's listener call-in program 'On the Line' tackled The State of Education in Alabama.
Marilynne Robinson
Marilynne Robinson's second novel, Gilead, is written in the form of a letter from a 76-year old Congregationalist minister to his young son. Gilead is a meditation on family relationships, religion, and finding meaning in life. Robinson's visit coincided with the selection of Gilead for the Mayor's Book Club of Vestavia Hills. She spoke with WBHM's Roseanne Pereira.
