Lisa Kay Howard
About Lisa Kay Howard
Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, a young Lisa Kay moved with her family to Virginia after her parents visited the area on a vacation and were impressed by all the bluegrass music on WAMU’s 88.5 FM.
Lisa Kay got into broadcasting in 1992 while at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where she shared a two-hour time slot on the college station with another host. She spun bluegrass tunes, alternating with her co-host’s alternative rock choices!
Beginning in 1993, she was asked to host a weekly show on two commercial stations in Virginia: first on WJMA in Orange and later on WCUL in Culpeper. She also hosted bluegrass and folk shows on public radio station WTJU in Charlottesville and always preferred the public radio arena.
In December 2001 she was thrilled to join the rotating cast of announcers on WAMU-FM’s Bluegrass Overnight. The show was a real treat for her, kind of the Holy Grail of bluegrass radio. Since the move to WAMU’s Bluegrass Country, she finds it especially rewarding to interact with listeners all over the world!
Lisa Kay lives in Catharpin, Virginia with her two cats, Dudley and Lucinda, and her musical fiance, Wally Hughes. She plays mandolin and sings, fronting the Lisa Kay Band, and is occasionally seen as an emcee at festivals. She has written articles for several bluegrass music publications, booked and promoted bands and venues, and co-founded the area’s DC Bluegrass Union. She is also a graduate of IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2002, and–she loves to talk about bluegrass with anyone who will listen!
