Tag Archives: WKTV podcast

East Kentwood grad Judah Guerra a definite melomaniac

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East Kentwood graduate Judah Guerra hosts a podcast at WKTV called Great Lakes Music. Guerra is a jazz studies major at Michigan State University. (WKTV)



By Colleen Pierson

WKTV Contributor



A melomaniac is defined as a person who absolutely and enthusiastically loves music. Kentwood graduate Judah Guerra fits that definition wholeheartedly.

“Music is something I have been surrounded by for as long as I can remember,” he explained.

His Mom is a director of music, his father is a Latin percussionist and his siblings all have college music degrees. His grandmother is a talented singer and pianist.

“Currently, music has brought me connections to understanding the world and to people in a way that I plan on pursuing as far as I can,” he said emotionally.



Great Lakes Music host Judah Guerra (right) and guest Kevin Jones, a Michigan State University percussion instructor who has shared the stage or recorded with many musicians, including The Isley Brothers, Jermaine Jackson, Whitney Houston, Bebe and Cece Winans, Joey DeFrancesco, and many more. (WKTV/Cris Greer)



His music history started with flute lessons at the age of six. And then he joined the Grand Rapids Men and Boys Choir that year. Trombone came next in middle school followed by remarkable experiences at music camps. Thus began his love for jazz.

“I started playing electric bass in 8th grade because my dad had one and always to wanted me to play it. My junior year of high school I bought an upright bass because at that point I was coming to the point of my gigs where bass players weren’t handy,” he said of his love of the instrument.

In high school, Guerra participated in as many musical ensembles as possible. At Grand River Prep he was in the band, choir, jazz band, pep band, pit, and also had lead roles in musicals he participated in.  He also played in college bands in the area, honor bands, Grand Youth Symphony, the St. Cecilia Jazz Orchestra and a band he started out of that orchestra called GR Groove. To say the least, he was very busy with music in high school. 

During Guerra’s senior year he transferred to East Kentwood in order to be in-person during the pandemic. 



Great Lakes Music podcast host Judah Guerra (left) and Nathan Walton, of Nathan Walton and the Remedy, and a former Golden Ticket winner on Season 3 of ABC’s American Idol. (WKTV)



“East Kentwood was extremely helpful in getting me to play at a higher level, and it was very inspiring to see my peers play because of the level they were at.“

Currently, Guerra is a jazz studies major at Michigan State University on a full scholarship. He studies bass and trombone with a world class faculty there, he noted. 

“Michigan State has been an inspiring institution for me to continue my musical path.”

Great Lakes Music podcast at WKTV

Judah credits WKTV for giving him the opportunity to start a podcast named Great Lakes Music.  He has always wanted to have a podcast ever since he started watching his heroes from far and wide talk when the world went online during the pandemic.

“I want Great Lakes Music to be able to highlight the musicians in Michigan at a high level, and to give people a sense of what talent is,” he enthused.



Great Lakes Music podcast host Judah Guerra interviews and jams with local musician Nathan Walton, of Nathan Walton and the Remedy, and a former Golden Ticket winner on Season 3 of ABC’s American Idol.

 

The podcast itself highlights a new artist every episode.

“It is a chance for the guests to tell their story, give advice, and comment on the music scene as it is,” he explained.

“WKTV has been extremely helpful with the podcast and getting my name out there. The whole staff is out of this world in terms of their talent and kindness; two traits that are very rare to find,” he concluded. 



Great Lakes Music podcast host Judah Guerra interviews Joel Ferguson, former Verve Pipe band member.

Check out local talent Judah Guerra’s first WKTV podcast called Great Lakes Music

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Michigan State University percussion instructor Kevin Jones, left, and MSU jazz studies major Judah Guerra in the podcast room at WKTV. (WKTV/Cris Greer)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Take a look at Michigan State University junior Judah Guerra’s first podcast he recently created at WKTV, “Great Lakes Music.”


As host of the new podcast, Guerra is interviewing and performing with professionals from all angles of the music scene in Michigan.


“This is a pursuit to learn more about what’s going on here in Michigan with music,” said Guerra, a bass and trombone player born and raised in Grand Rapids, a band leader of GR Groove and a jazz studies major at MSU.



Guerra studies under Michael Dease and Rodney Whitaker, “two of the most highly-regarded musicians in their fields today,” he said.


His first guest was MSU percussion instructor Kevin Jones, who has shared the stage or recorded with many musicians, including The Isley Brothers, Jermaine Jackson, Whitney Houston, Bebe and Cece Winans, Walter Bishop Jr., Tommy Turentine, Joey DeFrancesco, Melvin Sparks, Art Blakey, and a whole bunch more.



Kentwood city commissioner to host ‘Community Conversation’ on immigration

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A scene from Emily Bridson’s Community Conversation on Homelessness (and WKTV podcast) at Broad Leaf Local Beer in Kentwood in late 2019. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

A part of her continuing community conversations, City of Kentwood Commissioner Emily Bridson will co-host a Community Conversation on Immigration, focused on America’s immigration policies, on Thursday, Jan. 9, from 5:30-7 p.m., at Broad Leaf Local Beer.

“The New Year promises to be a polarizing time in our country’s history and we need to find a way to work together,” Bridson said about the planned event. “Let’s gather for a candid community dialogue on immigration. We will discuss licenses for all, detainment, and health care, to name a few.”

The panel will include Hillary Scholten, Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District, and Bo Torres, local Hispanic community leader.

The event will be moderated by Bridson and Marshall Kilgore, Western Michigan Director for United Precinct Delegates.

WKTV Community Media will be on-hand to create a podcast of the discussion.

Emily Bridson (WKTV)

“As I research and learn more about immigration issues, I was fortunate to be invited to attend a large meeting last month where local organizations that serve immigrants gathered to create a plan to ensure that President Trump’s Executive Order 13888 (EO), which focuses on refugee resettlement in our communities, would be addressed by his established deadlines,” Bridson said.

On Dec. 17, 2019, the Kentwood City Commission voted to allow further resettlement in our city.

“It was a night of heartfelt personal stories where community members shared their memories of making Kentwood their home,” Bridson said. “We know Kentwood is a special place and it is because we embrace cultures and people from around the world in all of our neighborhoods.”

Bridson pointed out that in a recent study, the economic impact of foreign-born residents of Kent County contributed nearly $3.3 billion to the county’s GDP.

“The numbers speak for themselves on the continued positive impact immigrants have in our community,” she said.

“Our first community conversation was focused on discussing solutions to address homelessness,” Bridson said. Kilgore and Bridson “had over 50 interested community members join us.  Bringing our community together to find solutions to pressing issues has been the driving force behind our efforts.”

For a link to that WKTV podcast, visit here.

Broad Leaf Local Beer is located at 2885 Lake Eastbrook, Kentwood. For more information on the event visit here.

Broad Leaf Local Beerwill donate a portion of the proceeds to The Refugee Education Center.

WKTV in Focus podcast spotlights local non-profit Alternatives in Motion’s work for disabled

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WKTV Journal In Focus’s podcast on Alternatives in Motion featured Coleen Marie Davis, AIM executive director, and Michael Pratt, AIM Board of Directors vice president and a project manager for the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). The program is hosted by WKTV’s Ken Norris, left. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal’s In Focus series of podcasts, we discuss the past, present and future of the local non-profit Alternatives in Motion, a group with the goal of, quote, “Enhancing independence through access to mobility equipment.”

Visiting our studios were Coleen Marie Davis, Alternatives in Motion executive director, and Michael Pratt, Alternatives in Motion Board of Directors vice president and a project manager for the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University (GVSU).

Among the topics discussed are disparities and barriers that persons with disabilities face by not having access to mobility equipment, AIM’s roll in supporting persons with disabilities, this month’s AIM “Fowling Fundraiser” for the group’s growing Pediatric Mobility Program, and why community outreach is so important for any non profit.

For a link to the audio podcast, click here; for a link to the episode’s interview video, click here. (If you’d like to give us some feedback on our special In Focus podcasts, please contact Ken Norris at ken@wktv.org.)

Regular episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times).