Jazz `N Caz to Honor Leo Rayhill

At Cazenovia College’s 8th Annual Jazz `N Caz, from Sept. 24 – 26, the host of WCNY’s “Sounds of Jazz,” Leo Rayhill, of Fayetteville, N.Y., will be honored by the College and the community for his dedication to sharing his love of jazz with the Central New York Community for more than 40 years.

WAER-FM’s Eric Cohen will emcee the tribute at the Catherine Cummings Theatre, on Friday, Sept. 25, following the performance by Emmy-nominated vocalist Jane Monheit, at about 8:45 p.m. The tribute will be repeated for Saturday evening fans, as part of the Bear Cat Jass Band’s performance.

For the complete Jazz `N Caz performance schedule, visit www.cazenovia.edu/jazz.

Rayhill has been a fan of jazz since childhood, and has been the volunteer host of WCNY’s “Sounds of Jazz” every weekday for more than 35 years, in addition to running his roofing and siding business in Fayetteville, from which he retired several years ago.

As the host of “Sounds of Jazz,” Rayhill has interviewed Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and other jazz greats. He was honored by the Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse for his dedication to sharing jazz with Central New York, and received a Lifetime Achievement trophy from the Syracuse Area Music Awards, popularly known as ‘the Sammy award,’ recognizing 47 years on the airwaves and support for promoting area musicians as well as nationally known jazz greats.

Rayhill began his radio career in the early-1940s as a student at Hamilton College, where he hosted “Just Jazz.” He was operating a successful roofing business when his “Sounds of Jazz,” which is now heard on WCNY-FM, debuted.

Jazz `N Caz to Honor Leo Rayhill

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