Thanks to the Clark Atlanta University Office of Alumni Relations and Engagment for celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month, including this feature about our own Debb Moore:

WCLK’s Debb Moore left her Ohio home to attend Bowling Green State University, but her life’s trajectory changed when her sister, a student at Clark College, came home for the holidays transformed. Debb says, “She left as a caterpillar. And she walked back in as a butterfly—confident, radiant, and free.” Debb saw her sister’s growth, crediting it to her experience at Clark College. The image stayed with Debb and inspired her to make a move of her own. Eventually she talked to her mother about transferring, and trusting her mother’s vote of confidence, she became a Panther, majoring in mass communications with an emphasis in broadcast journalism. She aspired to be like broadcast trailblazers Barbara Walters and Michelle Holden, and while it would be awhile before Debb got back to her media roots, she says her career path, which she calls a “winding road,” unfolded one season at a time and taught her valuable lessons. From working as a public relations assistant with the National Black Arts Festival during its early years to working as a legislative aide for an Atlanta City Councilwoman, Debb recalls cutting her professional teeth “in spaces where I learned how to show up, keep commitments, make my word my bond and respect responsibility and the process—even if it was hard and unglamorous.” The process, she realizes, prepared her for her destiny—a more-than-30-year career in broadcast radio. She reflects, “I worked, grew, listened, fell down, got back up, and, more importantly, paid attention to what was stirring in my spirit. I realized that my voice wasn’t just meant to be heard, but it was meant to touch!” Pausing briefly, she added, “Maybe I found radio first, or radio found me. I don’t know.”
What she does know is that when she arrived at WCLK in 1991, she was ready to be on radio and attracted by the opportunity to work in and around jazz music, a genre that has been a part of her since her adolescence. As a Clark College student, she listened to WCLK, grew more curious about its history, and felt compelled to study—her love for jazz growing all the while.

“The more I studied and connected the dots, the more fascinating the music became! The music touched my heart, and my respect and appreciation grew deeper because of its musicians, history, folklore, life lessons, politics, strength, and ever evolving powerful sound. Jazz lets you feel EVERYTHING—joy, reflection, struggle, celebration, being bold, and the wisdom to trust God’s timing—if you’re lucky, all in one tune.” Today, Debb encourages fledgling jazz enthusiasts to attend jazz concerts and study the music. “Listen. Read. Be curious. Talk to jazz heads.”

Learning is a pivotal part of who Debb is, and she thanks Clark College for shaping her into the continuously growing individual and professional she is. “Personally, Clark offered me a deep understanding of human nature, identity, pride, and responsibility. When I walked those halls, I wasn’t just learning about theory; I was actually surrounded by legacy, excellence, commitment, and a community that expected me to find a way or make one. It’s given me confidence, resilience, and the knowledge that I represent something bigger than myself in the spaces where I show up.”

Professionally, she added, “Clark College didn’t just prepare me for a career; it helped to prepared me to lead, think critically, communicate with purpose, and try to move with integrity. The relationships, the triumphs, the challenges, and the cultural awareness that I have gained continue to inform and influence how I stand and show up to serve in this world.”

Asked to share the best part of her career with WCLK—personally, professionally, and as a lover of jazz music, Debb’s response makes it clear that for her, the personal, professional, and creative are inextricably bound. She said, “WCLK has challenged me to be authentic and creative and offered me a valued commodity in an extremely complex media space. My goal has been to utilize my voice to offer enjoyable musical conversation, comfort, and some healing. I have discovered that part of my purpose is to expose, inspire, teach, and uplift people by being a vessel for jazz music to be heard—to be able to create a space where every note feels like a warm hug and a great cup of tea, every melody and word carry hope, and all listeners are reminded that they are seen, valued, and never alone on this journey.”