Randy Eccles
General Manager, NPR Illinois/ Co-Host, Community Voices/ CAB Ex-OfficioSpringfield
Please reach out at randy.eccles@nprillinois.org.
Randy Eccles became NPR Illinois general manager in 2013 after serving as development director since moving to Springfield in 2008. Randy served on the Governor's Local Journalism Task Force 2023-2024.
Randy currently serves as the president of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council – the association for all public media organizations in Illinois.
Randy previously worked at KTAR in Phoenix and WGN in Chicago in programming and marketing management after producing talk shows and sports coverage. He also served in management and news stints at student-run stations WHFH, WONC, and WUEV.
Born in Hinsdale, he was raised by teachers in south suburban Glenwood and graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School, then North Central College in Naperville. Randy also spent a lot of time at the family farm in Industry, Illinois (south of Macomb).
Randy served on the Springfield Area Arts Council board and was awarded the best of show in the Springfield Art Association's 2023 Art Synergy program in a collaboration with professional artist Alissa Ohashi.
Randy co-hosts Community Voices and its music-focused edition, CV-X, Saturdays 5 to 7 p.m.
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Blue Iris is based in central Illinois and consists of two married couples, the Hargis and Schaut families. The band is nominated for seven Josie Music Awards recognizing excellence in the independent music industry. They will be attending the ceremony in Nashville at the end of October. In the meantime, they are performing around central Illinois including the State Fair to support their new single and video, Beautiful Sound. -
Jose Gobbo revisits Community Voices to update his work in music and education and preview the Jose Gobbo Trio opening the final Levitt AMP show of 2024 for Radio Free Honduras. -
Radio Free Honduras is a collective of Chicago musicians who are dedicated to showcasing the artistry of Charlie Baran. Baran contributed to some of the top Honduran music while with Banda Blanca. Radio Free Honduras founder, Dan Abu-Absi, joins Community Voices to share how they spotlight Baran's talent. -
Chicago's Dogs at Large open the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series July 25, 2024 for The Cactus Blossoms. Sam Pirruccello joins Community Voices to talk about the band, the Chicago music scene, his family musical heritage, and to preview the visit. -
The Cactus Blossoms headline the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series July 25, 2024. Brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey join Community Voices to preview the show, discuss new material, career breaks, and collaborations. -
Al Laughlin is songwriter, keyboardist and vocalist appearing at Blue Grouch July 20, 2024, 7 p.m. He is a founding member of The Samples, a Colorado-based band. He reunites with them on ocassion, but now tours with Al's HWY 50. -
In this LISTEN session, you hear from members of the Jewish Federation of Springfield at Temple Israel where its congregation and that of Temple B'rith Sholom combined to discuss their close knit community and why they love living in Springfield. -
A Special Temporary Authority (STA) has been extended by the FCC. -
Teresa Marie and Tim Lochner of The People Brothers Band join Community Voices to preview their July 18 Levitt AMP show and how they pull together from around Wisconsin and Minnesota to event create their own festival. -
Surf's up! Rory Davis of Springfield band, Go! Tsunami joins Community Voices to talk about making the transition to monster surf rock.
