After 27 years of service to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) and WUOT 91.9 FM, Todd Steed, program director and longtime host of Improvisations and Studio 865, has announced his plans to retire from his role at the station this fall.
I’ve had a lot of jobs at UT; none of them have felt like jobs because in each one I felt like I was helping someone. But just as importantly, in all these places I was surrounded by people who believed in what they were doing. We care deeply about the programming of WUOT and what is happening in our community.”
Todd Steed
Program Director/Host
WUOT 90.3 FM
After holding several positions at UT, Steed joined WUOT, the region’s NPR affiliate licensed to the university, in 2006 as its part-time jazz coordinator. Like so many other Knoxville natives, Steed grew up listening to WUOT with his family. For him, the opportunity to work for East Tennessee’s NPR affiliate station was surreal.
“I’ve had a lot of jobs at UT; none of them have felt like jobs because in each one I felt like I was helping someone,” Steed said. “But just as importantly, in all these places I was surrounded by people who believed in what they were doing. We care deeply about the programming of WUOT and what is happening in our community.”
It was soon after joining WUOT that Steed took over Improvisations, WUOT’s evening jazz music program. Steed began introducing listeners, new and old, to a wide array of jazz music subgenres, as well as local and international jazz musicians through his dynamic interviews. With his creative oversight, Improvisations has brought over a hundred musicians into the studio each year for interviews and live performances, including Grammy and Pulitzer Prize nominees, making WUOT’s jazz lineups one of the strongest in the country.
Steed is a Knoxville native and an alumnus of the School of Journalism and Media (’84) in UT’s College of Communication and Information, and of the College of Education (’96). WUOT was incorporated into CCI in 2023.
“Todd Steed has been at the heart of WUOT for decades. His passion for sharing music and storytelling has not only enriched our community but also elevated the mission of public radio in the region,” CCI Dean Joseph Mazer said. “Todd’s voice and vision have left an indelible mark on WUOT and the college. While we will miss hearing his voice on WUOT, his legacy will continue to inspire us for years to come.”
Outside of his work in radio, Steed has also had an accomplished musical career, having been inducted into the East Tennessee Writers’ Hall of Fame in 2023 for his songwriting. He was recently honored with the School of Journalism and Media’s 2024 Alumni of the Year Award. In many ways, it can be said that Steed’s off-air legacy is only matched by the impact he’s had on air.
“Todd has been so much more than a colleague. He’s been a mentor, a creative spark, a steady presence, and a friend to so many of us,” WUOT Station Manager Jody Hamblett said. “His warmth, humor, generosity, and dedication have shaped our station just as profoundly as his music and on-air work have touched our listeners. I feel deeply grateful that we’ve had the privilege of working alongside him.”
When asked about how he plans to spend his days off-air, Steed says he’s unsure but hopes to continue to surround himself with individuals who believe in what they do and lend a helping hand to his community.
“I’m a VFL so volunteering will be on the list. I’d also like to get good enough on guitar to be able to sit in with Taber Gable’s band, even if they just let me do it out of pity,” said Steed.
WUOT invites all listeners to join in congratulating Todd and wishing him joy, adventure, and fulfillment in this next chapter of his life.