Mississippi Roads

• Jimmie Rodgers Museum
  
  Air date 11/19/09
  Episode #21005
  The Jimmie Rodgers museum in Meridian pays tribute to “The Father of Country Music.” The town is also home to Greg Cartmell a gifted artist and musician. Country Music takes the stage at scenic Sciple’s Mill in Kemper County. We also trace some of the Mississippi musicians and musical styles who are intertwined with the music of Jimmie Rodgers. Hundreds of 18th century figures and artifacts of the holy family during the birth of Christ comprise the Bethlehem Tree Exhibit; which is quickly becoming a new holiday tradition at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson.
• Prairie Arts Festival
  
  Air date 11/12/09
  Episode #21004
  Mississippi Roads meanders through the Prairie Arts Festival and the charming host town of West Point. You might not know who Billy Brasfield is but, a whole lot of celebrities do. Billy B, as he’s known in the fashion world, has a remarkably creative gift, and incredible reputation as a professional makeup artist. Billy also wants to restore his hometown of Aberdeen one house at a time. Meet the Homemade Jamz family band of Tupelo, which is in tune with the blues at a very young age.
• French Camp
  
  Air date 11/05/09
  Episode #21003
  Mississippi Roads travels the Natchez Trace to French Camp Academy to study this very successful boarding school. Then we meet Dr. Mark Yeager who founded Kamp Kaleidoscope to provide a one-of-a-kind summer camp experience for kids on the autism spectrum. Finally, we learn about students in Jackson who are learning to grow and growing to learn at Casey Elementary.
• Town of Louin
  
  Air date 10/22/09
  Episode #21002
  Mississippi Roads eases down to our featured town of Louin to hear the sounds of master instrument maker MB Green. Then we visit Bob Jackman of Brandon, who has built quite a collection of model cars. We close the episode by learning how one man’s junk is transformed into art by metal sculptor and Louin resident, Dave Heflin.
• Dudie Burger Festival
  
  Air date 10/15/09
  Episode #21001
  Mississippi Roads travels to Lee County to the Oren Dunn City Museum in Tupelo for the 7th annual Dudie Burger Festival.
• Walter Anderson Museum
  
  Air date 02/04/10 | CC
  Episode #21006
  Mississippi Roads eases down to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to historic downtown Ocean Springs and drops in for a visit to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art.
• Town of Moss Point
  
  Air date 02/11/10
  Episode #21007
  Mississippi Roads travels south to coastal Jackson County; we are in the river city town of Moss Point.
• Rocky Springs
  
  Air date 02/18/10 | CC
  Episode #21008
  Mississippi Roads eases down the Natchez Trace to the Claiborne County ghost town of Rocky Springs.
• Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
  
  Air date 02/25/10 | CC
  Episode #21009
  Walt visits Mississippi’s first children’s museum, meets a talented drummer, finds a safe-haven for sick children and explores a

Meet Walt

Walt Grayson is the host of Mississippi Roads.  His name and the sound of his voice are synonymous with telling the story of Mississippi’s people, communities, and attractions.  He is a native Mississippian, born and raised in Greenville. His Mississippi roots run deep with five generations of his family buried in Mississippi soil.

Walt's interest in broadcasting started early. He was an announcer for Greenville radio station WJPR while still in high school.  His first television experience came as a weekend weather fill-in and an occasional travel feature reporter, all the while still working full time in radio at Jackson's WSLI. Walt joined the WLBT-TV, Jackson team as a weather anchor in 1984. Walt takes viewers on a "Look Around Mississippi" weekly on WLBT.

Walt is married to his first love from Junior High School, Jo. Between them they have four children and four grand children.

Walt also writes a monthly newspaper article for the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi.  He is the author of four books: Jackson the Good Life and Looking Around Mississippi with Walt Grayson, as well as Looking Around Mississippi Some More! With Walt Grayson, which was awarded the Mississippi Library Association’s Non-Fiction Book of the Year award in 2008, and his newest book, Oh! That Reminds Me, More Homegrown Mississippi Stories with Walt Grayson.

Walt has been inducted into the Associated Press Mississippi Broadcasters Hall of Fame.