Marty Scarbrough was nominated by Mark Smith for P.R.O.P.S. Recognition. Mark said Marty is “is the Program Director for KASU, A-State's public media service. He is constantly looking at A-State events, as well as grants, research projects, and faculty achievements that we can discuss and promote through KASU. He schedules and conducts interviews to air during various local programs, to inform not only our university community, but also our broader audience throughout the region, about what A-State has to offer and the impact our university has in our region.”
P.R.O.P.S. subcommittee members Kelsey DeFord, Andrew Nolley, and Madeline Ragland spoke with Marty to learn more about him and his experience at A-State.
What do you like most about A-State?
The community. Absolutely the community. This is my 33rd year here on campus and the way that people care for one another, not only among faculty and staff, but also among the student population, that's one of my favorite things about Arkansas State University.
What is one thing you wish you could teach everyone about your role on campus?
With KASU radio, for many years we've been a training ground for future broadcasters, people who've gone on to careers in television, radio, and various aspects of media have come through and worked here at this radio station.
But, we recognize that KASU has a reach far beyond this campus. We have a 100,000 Watt FM signal. We stream our broadcast over the Internet through our app and through our website. And this radio station reaches tens of thousands of people, many of whom may never set foot on this campus and who may never have a student here. But what they learn about Arkansas State University comes from what they hear on this radio station.
So at KASU, we're constantly looking for ways to positively reflect the university out into the community at large. That could be through conversations that I'm having with community leaders on campus or in local governments, conversations with students about accomplishments that they've been able to achieve, or sharing styles of music that aren't being heard on other local radio stations. At KASU, we're working to be a positive outreach from Arkansas State into the community in a very unique way, engaging with people in the community who may never (otherwise) have a connection to Arkansas State.
With our FM signal, we reach about 30 different counties in southeast Missouri, West Tennessee, and Northeast Arkansas.
Before retiring, what would you like to do?
One thing that I would like to do is to increase the amount of local radio programming that originates here at Arkansas State University.
Right now, what we do at KASU is a mixture of local shows, but then also we're a member station of National Public Radio.
So, we do carry programs like “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered,” and “Fresh Air.” We're committed to continuing to carry those foundational programs.
We at KASU want to produce more programs reflecting our local region, and particularly the state of Arkansas. We want KASU to be a place where you find shows that you can't find anywhere but on KASU.
So our commitment over the next several years is to produce more local news, more local music shows, and more discussion programs in which we get people together talking about different topics that are affecting the community. My goal is doing more of those type of shows on KASU, instead of the national programs that we're just simply rebroadcasting which people can find from other sources.
One thing we want to do as well is reflect the fact that A-State is a system. It’s just not one campus here in Jonesboro, but there are things that are happening on our campuses in Beebe, and in Newport and so many other places around the state. We want to talk about those as well because that's part of the A-State system too.
Most recently binged show?
[My wife] and I are currently keeping up with the current season of Only Murders in the Building. Happy to see that back on the air again.
What event or experience led you to this career?
I knew from the time that I was a teenager that I wanted to do something in broadcasting, something in the media.
I was working toward a degree in radio and television at Murray State University in Murray, KY, and I had done a little bit of work in television. I learned that while I enjoyed TV, there was something more appealing to me about radio. At that time in television, to even do the most simple production, it would take 8 or 10 people.
But in radio, it's sort of a one-man operation, and that seemed to fit my personality well. I've had a love of music for as long as I can remember, dating back to my early childhood days. And just the idea of sharing music with people on the radio was always appealing to me.
I had the opportunity to start doing that when I was a student working toward a bachelor's degree and then upon graduation. From there, I had the opportunity to come here to Arkansas State University, where, as I said earlier, I've been here for over 3 decades now
What music is playing in your car?
Other than KASU, I am just all up and down the radio dial. I have to admit, I also do have satellite radio. My two favorite stations, believe it or not, are the 1980s new wave music station and the bluegrass radio station. I'll also listen to some classic rock and some contemporary pop hits too. That’s what you'll find on my radio.
So this is not on our list, but with your love of music, do you play any instruments? Are you a singer?
I’m definitely not a singer, but I’ve played guitar since I was a teenager. I'm blessed to have the opportunity to give some guitar lessons on the side, beyond what I do here at Arkansas State, and I've had the chance to pick up and play some other stringed instruments. I play electric bass. I play a little bit of banjo. I even play ukulele; I give ukulele lessons to young children as a sideline too.
The one thing I’ve learned that I would tell my younger self is…
Don't underestimate yourself. You're capable of doing things that you could never have imagined that you were able to do.
And also, don't ever be afraid to ask. There have been some musicians I’ve thought “they would never come and do something for us,” or “they’d never allow me to interview them,” but they've said yes. So never be afraid to “make the ask.” The worse they could say is no, but you may be pleasantly surprised. Or maybe even shocked sometimes at the yeses that you'll receive when you ask.
If you can think of one, who's the most famous person or musician that you've interviewed?
There’ve been so many. Because I host the “Arkansas Roots” radio program. (It’s all about Arkansas music.) Probably the most famous Arkansas musician I think I've interviewed is Collin Raye. But I've also had the chance to interview people who have come to perform either here at Arkansas State University or in Jonesboro.
I've interviewed Michael W. Smith, I've interviewed Mac Powell of the band Third Day.
I recently had the chance to interview Jon Lovitz, (who was on Saturday Night Live) to promote a stand-up show that he was doing here in Northeast Arkansas.
So that's a fun thing about my job. I never know who I'll talk to.
I've interviewed everyone from heavy metal musicians to classical musicians, as well as all sorts of actors, comedians, public officials and politicians and candidates for office.
It's a fun job to be able to talk to people, to get their stories, and then be able to share them with other people.
