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WRAL Creates Scenic “Journey” for UNC-TV
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Bill Leslie’s “Peaceful Journey” serves as a backdrop for a scenic program on UNC-TV. |
WRAL-TV Anchor Bill Leslie wrote and produced a chart-topping album last year, and now his instrumental compositions have become a backdrop for a picturesque program for UNC-TV. “Peaceful Journey: A Celebration of North Carolina” will appear on UNC-TV as part of its Go for the Goal! mini-pledge drive at 10pm on both Monday, June 6th and Thursday, June 9th.
WRAL-TV Chief Photographer Bob Sadler and News Photographer Keith Baker and free-lancer Art Howard shot the footage around North Carolina, Leslie hosted and WRAL-TV Post Production Supervisor Steve Elizondo produced and edited.
The WRAL crew visited five North Carolina locations for the UNC-TV version of “Peaceful Journey.” The program brings viewers the scenic vistas from Lake Mattamuskeet, Bath, Montreat, Quaker Meadows in Burke County and Kanuga at Hendersonville, all set to five tunes on Leslie’s album.
The crew is also working on a longer version of the program to air on WRAL-TV in the future, adding footage from Ocracoke.
Leslie’s latest album, “Peaceful Journey” peaked at number one on the new age charts in December 2004 and stayed in the top five for three months and the top ten for five months. New Age music critic R.J. Lannan named “Peaceful Journey” one of the top tens albums of 2004.
“If you ever want to hear what the honest beauty of Appalachia sounds like, the verdant forest trails, the magnificent mountains and the steadfast spirit of the mountain folk, then listen to Bill Leslie’s album ‘Peaceful Journey, A Celebration of North Carolina’,” Lannan said.
Leslie will release a new CD “Christmas in Carolina” this November and is in the process of putting together another album for next year titled “I Am A River.”
Besides working hard at writing and working in the studio on new music, Leslie keeps a busy performance schedule. He will share the stage with recording artist, and Leslie’s former roommate, John Tesh and the NC Symphony on June 24th at Meymandi Concert Hall at the BTI Center in downtown Raleigh. He will also perform at a benefit concert and gala for the Eastern NC Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
UNC-TV’s mini fundraising event Go for the Goal! runs June 4 – 12. The fiscal year-end fundraising goal for the non-profit station is $11 million and must be reached by June 30th.
