Book a Lecture: “Honor the Music” with Winston Hall

About the Series

Honor the Music is an inspiring live presentation by musician and historian Winston Hall, celebrating the people, places, and performances that made Shreveport one of the most important musical cities in America. Through stories, songs, and rare archival footage, Winston brings to life the spirit of The Louisiana Hayride , the rise of Johnny Horton, the story of Leadbelly, and the generations of artists who changed the sound of American Music.

Equal parts concert, history lesson, and hometown revival, Honor the Music reminds audiences that Shreveport’s story isn’t just something to remember, it’s something to carry forward.

What to Expect

Each lecture runs 60–120 minutes and can be tailored for:

  • Schools and universities

  • Community and civic events

  • Museums, libraries, and cultural centers

  • Private or donor gatherings

Winston’s presentations include live music, multimedia storytelling, and audience engagement, all built around the Foundation’s guiding mission to preserve, share, and inspire.

Winston Hall

Musician, Historian, and Deputy Director, The John Gale Horton Foundation

Winston Hall is a Texas native, musician, and storyteller whose life’s work bridges the gap between performance and preservation. A graduate of Angelo State University, Winston has spent more than two decades immersed in the music and history of the Ark-La-Tex region. Since making Shreveport his home, he has become one of the city’s most respected voices in musical preservation, known for his deep knowledge, warm stage presence, and lifelong commitment to honoring the artists who shaped America’s sound.

As a pianist, Winston has performed for audiences across Louisiana and beyond, blending his love of classic country, gospel, rhythm and blues, and early rock ’n’ roll into performances that are both educational and deeply moving. His programs connect people to the stories behind the songs, to the humanity, humor, and heart that defined the Louisiana Hayride era and the generations it inspired.

Through his “Honor the Music” lecture series, Winston shares this legacy in schools, museums, churches, and civic spaces, combining live music with storytelling and multimedia history. Each presentation invites audiences to rediscover Shreveport’s extraordinary role in shaping 20th-century American music, from the roots of country and rockabilly to the spirit of gospel and soul.

In his role as Director of Programs and Public Engagement, Winston helps lead the Foundation’s efforts to preserve, interpret, and celebrate Shreveport’s musical heritage. His work extends beyond the stage, into community outreach, archival curation, and education, helping to ensure that the stories and songs born here continue to inspire future generations.

Winston believes that music is more than entertainment; it is a shared inheritance that connects us to who we are and where we come from. His guiding message, Honor the Music, captures not just his philosophy, but the mission of the Foundation itself: to remember with gratitude, to preserve with care, and to pass on with love.