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Chuck Benson
Chuck, a native
of the Chicago area, attended broadcasting school upon discharge from the Marine Corps. He then launched into 30 years of radio broadcasting, at WMAQ, WIND and WFYR in Chicago, KBOX,
in Dallas, KLIF in Houston, and WGR in Buffalo.
For the past 6 years, Chuck has worked exclusively as a professional voice talent in the Denver area. He has performed
commercial and narration work for Ford, Sears, Martin-Marietta, Hewlett Packard, the Denver Post, Colorado State Lottery, Hamburger Helper, and many others.
Chuck joined the
narration staff at Talking Book Publishers in Denver in 1988, and quickly became a great favorite of both his co-workers and NLS patrons. His easygoing demeanor belies the intensity
and urgency of his narration of many thrillers, mysteries, and 'The First Man in Rome" series by Colleen McCullough. Chuck finds narrating both challenging and rewarding, and
says, "it's a great feeling to finish a good book, feel you've done your best, and have it approved by the NLS!"
Chuck is married, and he and his wife have 3 children
and 2 grand-children. He plans to continue his present activities as a narrator and voice talent "as long as the voice holds out and the talent lingers!"
We hope that
you have listened to the Talking Book, The Chamber, by John Grisham and heard the outstanding reading by Chuck Benson. Chuck's handling of the various and difficult characters in the
book is the best ever. .
To send Chuck Benson a note or letter of appreciation, write to:
Chuck Benson
c/o Talking Books Publishers, Inc.
P.O. Box 1653,.
Englewood, CO 80150-1653
Madelyn Buzzard
Madelyn Buzzard is proud to have been the 1994 recipient of the Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Award in the Fiction Category. She has
been narrating for Talking Books at APH for 11 years. In that time she has recorded over 400 titles including such authors as L. Frank Baum and the original Wizard of Oz Series,
Sandra Brown. Jackie Collins, Patricia Cornwell, Joan Hess and the Maggody Books, Johanna Lindsey. and Ann M. Martin and the Baby-Sitters Club Series.
The New Jersey native
graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC and the University of Louisville and she has appeared on stage ("You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" Off Broadway),
screen ('Three On A Meathook" a horror of a horror film), TV (Another World and commercials) and in Dinner Theaters around the country. She lives on the Ohio River in Louisville,
teaches aerobics, creative dramatics, and speech. She enjoys working on training films, cooking, fishing, skiing, providing commentary on fashion shows and would love to hear from
Talking Book patrons.
To send Madelyn Buzzard a note or letter of appreciation, write to:
Madelyn Buzzard
c/o American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville KY 40206
Randall Atcher
Randall (Randy) Atcher was born December 7, 1918, at Tip Top, Hardin County, Kentucky, the fifth of eight children. He attended grade and high
school at West Point, Kentucky, graduating Salutatorian of his class The Atcher's were a musical family and Randy began singing and playing guitar and mandolin on WHAS radio,
Louisville, at the age of thirteen.
He received a scholarship to Western Kentucky State Teachers College, which was interrupted by the 1937 Ohio River flood, which washed the
family home down river. After helping restore the family home, he returned to the entertainment business and then went to Chicago, where he was with the Ben Bern Orchestra.
On
December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he joined the Air Corps and spent nearly five years in the service, three and a half of those in the South Pacific where he
qualified to the rank of Major.
He returned to musical entertainment in 1947 and remained in that Profession at WHAS television until 1971 While there, in 1969, he auditioned
for Tina Lou Wallace at the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville. He was accepted and has read since that time.
Randy is extremely proud of having received the
1994 Alexander Scourby Award for nonfiction and hopes to continue at APH for many years to come. He thanks all the folks who voted for him to receive the 'Oscars of reading, awarded
by the American Foundation for the Blind.
To send Randy Atcher a note or letter of appreciation, write to:
Randy Atcher
c/o American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville KY 40206
Mr. Ray Hagen
Biography of Mr. Ray Hagen, Narrator at the National Library Service for the Blind or Physically Handicapped. He has recorded more than 375
books to date.
Ray was born in Brooklyn, NY (8/8/36), and grow up in Manhattan. In 1957 he began working as an all-purpose actor-dancer-singer. He appeared in shows on and off
Broadway, in cabarets. show tours, movies and television. Concurrently in the early 60's he began writing for various magazines; mostly movie-related cinema history and did interviews
of movie and television actors. He had many articles published. He co-wrote two plays, both of which were produced in New York.
Late in 1972 for personal reasons Ray relocated
to Washington DC. In '73, a friend casually mentioned that the Library of Congress had a Talking Books program and they were auditioning for new narrators. He auditioned, was
accepted. and 22 years later he is still enjoying his work.
Since coming to Washington, DC. he has occasionally returned to the stage as a singer and actor. Ray says, he never
did develop a fierce ambition as an actor. But recording books for the Library of Congress has satisfied any creative needs as an example, Ray recorded A Chorus Line and the Musicals
of Michael Bennet by Ken Mandelbaum, his record setting narration. Ray recorded A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennet by Ken Mandelbaum, his record
setting long narration. He said "I am hard core Chorus Line freak" "I have seen A Chorus Line 33 times. I'm an old chorus gypsy, I'm an old dancer
from New York, Its almost my life story on the stage, I love it."
Ray thinks that the theatrical background provides him with a few strong plusses. He says "I'm
not limited by physical appearance and I get to play all the parts, and I don't have to learn lines." He added "I've done far too many books I've totally loved to be able to
list any one or two favorites." He said, "The categories I've done the most of have been (1 ) show biz, (2)Yiddish & Polish accents, (3) psychotics. and (4)
comedy." "I have no idea what this means." The author he most consistently loved reading is Isaac Bashevis Singer. Ray said "Last month I completed recording my
13th Singer book, MESHUGAH. and I've just begun a series I've been dying to do since the late '70's: Armistead Maupin's 6-volume Tales of the City series." "So for the next
few months I'll be in Narrator's Heaven."
He would love to hear from his readers. Please write to:
Mr. Ray Hagen
National Library Service
1291 Taylor St. NW,
Washington, DC 20542
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