Its holiday gift to the community, the Center for Energy Education hosted a mini concert with a friend of C4EE who’s a retired news anchor, former environmental reporter and current musical artist.
C4EE welcomed Bill Leslie, musical artist and award-winning journalist, who shared his musical and storytelling talents with an engaged, inquisitive audience last Thursday evening.
C4EE Executive Director Mozine Lowe invited Leslie to C4EE’s Roanoke Rapids campus to discuss his 39-year career as a journalist with Raleigh-based WRAL 101.5 and WRAL-TV and to share stories and musical selections.
During his time in television, Leslie said he served as WRAL-TV’s first environmental reporter, a role that led to investigative reporting and documentaries. He noted his efforts, and work of his colleagues, brought awareness and corrective action to environmental issues such as water quality.
"When I heard C4EE invited Bill Leslie to share his music and stories over his media career, I knew I couldn't miss that event," said Andy Rose of Roanoke Rapids. "I grew up with Bill Leslie as the face of WRAL News. From Tarheel Traveler to news anchor, the man is an icon in North Carolina."
Leslie is board president of the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, on which Lowe serves as a fellow board member, where he leads state efforts to conserve mountain land and help vulnerable communities develop resiliency plans.
Now seven years retired, Leslie said his extra time has brought an opportunity for him to focus on music and songwriting full time.
He shared with the C4EE audience the origins and inspirations of his 12 albums and noted the range of instruments he plays. He also shared photos and videos of his travels, near and far, that he said have stimulated his artistic aspirations.
Audience member Darnise Daniel of Roanoke Rapids noted that Leslie was a part of her family for so many years, given his constant presence on their home televisions. “He graciously, calmly shared the daily news with us,” she said. “And while watching his videos, he transported us on his vacations – it was just like we were there with him. It was a beautiful evening.”
Leslie also shared stories of his contemporaries, former colleagues he worked with in his early radio DJ days who have found success in their professional roles.
He spoke of John Tesh, musician and host of the Intelligence for your Life radio show, and Rick Dees, radio personality and voice of the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown and the 1976 satirical novelty song ‘Disco Duck.’
