John Lemley
Encyclopedia
John Smith Lemley is the WABE (FM 90.1 Atlanta, Georgia
) early-afternoon music host. From 12 to 1 p.m., he hosts an hour of music, news, and features titled City Cafe. Afternoon Classics follows for two hours, from 1 to 3 p.m. Lemley also hosts 90.1’s Tapestry, a Sunday evening program that features choral music.
Lemley has also served as the station's assistant program director
and presented a couple of weekday afternoon classical music programs, Daytime (1997–2005) and Bach's Lunch (2004–2006). From 2006 to 2009, he served as the local host for the station's late afternoon news block; he returned as an afternoon music host when the previous midday announcer, Wanda Yang Temko, left the station.
Lemley is also one of the “official voices” of WPBA, Atlanta’s PBS affiliate and WABE’s companion
public television station
. He joined the staff of Public Broadcasting Atlanta (the organization that holds the broadcast license
s for WABE and WPBA) in June 1997, after serving for five years as music director
and afternoon classical music/news host at WBHM, the public radio station in Birmingham, Alabama
.
. He performed in high school
theatre productions and, at the age of 16, hosted an afternoon drive-time adult contemporary music program on Oneonta's radio station, WKLD
. Lemley was hired by WBHM in 1992.
performance from Birmingham-Southern College
. He was well on his way to becoming one of the most well-known names in the Birmingham theatre community, but became administrative assistant
for the Birmingham Music Club, the South’s oldest arts organization.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
) early-afternoon music host. From 12 to 1 p.m., he hosts an hour of music, news, and features titled City Cafe. Afternoon Classics follows for two hours, from 1 to 3 p.m. Lemley also hosts 90.1’s Tapestry, a Sunday evening program that features choral music.
Lemley has also served as the station's assistant program director
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
and presented a couple of weekday afternoon classical music programs, Daytime (1997–2005) and Bach's Lunch (2004–2006). From 2006 to 2009, he served as the local host for the station's late afternoon news block; he returned as an afternoon music host when the previous midday announcer, Wanda Yang Temko, left the station.
Lemley is also one of the “official voices” of WPBA, Atlanta’s PBS affiliate and WABE’s companion
Sister station
In broadcasting, sister stations or sister channels are radio and/or television stations operated by the same ownership....
public television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
. He joined the staff of Public Broadcasting Atlanta (the organization that holds the broadcast license
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
s for WABE and WPBA) in June 1997, after serving for five years as music director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
and afternoon classical music/news host at WBHM, the public radio station in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
.
Background
Lemley is the younger son of Bill and Billie Lemley. (His father was a funeral home owner/director and served in the Alabama state legislature in the late 1960s.) Lemley showed an early interest in theatre and broadcastingBroadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
. He performed in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
theatre productions and, at the age of 16, hosted an afternoon drive-time adult contemporary music program on Oneonta's radio station, WKLD
WKLD
WZZN is a radio station licensed to serve Union Grove, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Great South Wireless LLC. Previously licensed to Union Grove, Alabama, the station began licensed operation from Union Grove site in December 2009. The move was made so the station may serve the...
. Lemley was hired by WBHM in 1992.
Education, theatre and arts management work
Lemley received a bachelor’s degree in musical theatreMusical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
performance from Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
. He was well on his way to becoming one of the most well-known names in the Birmingham theatre community, but became administrative assistant
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant is a broad job category that designates an individual who provides various kinds of administrative support to people and groups in business enterprises.-Kinds of Administrative Assistants:...
for the Birmingham Music Club, the South’s oldest arts organization.
External links
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution - John Lemley Named as AJC Pick for "Best Drive-Time DJ in Atlanta 2008"
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution - John Lemley Holds Court With Bravo-Lifetime dandy Carson Kressley and Fred Schneider of the B-52s at Atlanta Restaurant/Bar
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution - A Virtual Tour of John Lemley and Michael Selk's Suburban Atlanta Home
- John Lemley on Voice123