Inside Iowa State
March 17, 2000
WOI Radio's music man
by Anne Krapfl
If you envy those who are able to
turn a passion into a career, count Randy Compton among the
enviable. Compton, who has been WOI Radio's music librarian
since 1983, really likes music -- and has succeeded at
filling his days with it.
In addition to his work at WOI Radio, Compton sings in his
church choir, assists with Iowa State's Chamber Singers
student chorale and serves as organizer/agent for an a
cappella men's vocal group, The Music Men.
Compton is in charge of a 210,000-entry database used by the station's FM producers in planning their on-air music programming. The database catalogs about 30,000 vinyl LPs and an escalating collection of CDs that currently numbers about 12,000 (90 percent of what gets played on air now is CD, he said). He orders new CDs for the collection, typically at the rate of one to two dozen each month, and then has to decide how to catalog a disc to be most helpful to the on-air people.
The cataloging system he inherited includes about 20 categories of music, with information fields that note specifics such as title, instrument, era, composer, composer's nationality, artist and recording company. He also tracks "themes" in music. Looking for something on gypsies? Courage? Revenge? Sisters? Compton has tried to be helpful.
WOI's on-air employees select their own music lists and assemble their own background commentary, based largely on the recording jackets and Compton's work. He doesn't hesitate to call a recording company or even the recording artist to learn more.
Part of his thoroughness are the habits of an organized man. The just-so desk accessories lining his work table or the gentle manner with which he closes a CD cabinet reflect a man who pays attention to details.
"With this much data, you have to be organized," he insists.
But Compton also loves what he does, because he loves music.
"I like listening to it, I like dealing with it," he said.
Lifelong habit
By the time he entered Newton High School, Compton had
about 10 years of piano lessons behind him. It helped develop
his hearing training, he said, but music remained something
less than a hobby. The music director at Newton, Tom Netzel,
changed all that. Compton participated in choir, swing choir
and folk choir and was selected for the all-state choir.
Still, he arrived at Iowa State in the fall of 1972 with his sights set on veterinary school. He later switched to psychology, received that degree in 1976 and received a second bachelor's degree in music education in 1979.
Music was a constant thread through those undergraduate years. He joined the Chamber Singers and, literally, never left. He has remained with the group as a tenor and (volunteer) assistant director. By his choice, this year -- his 25th -- will be his last with the group, he said, the way a baseball player talks about his last season in the majors.
Compton sings with the group and sometimes conducts or accompanies on piano.
In 1975, he helped put together a male barbershop group called the Shop of Barbers. That group has been known as The Music Men since 1988; members have been ISU students, alumni and employees. Compton keeps the group organized, runs weekly rehearsals and books performances for the Music Men -- about one a month most of the year, more during the Christmas holidays.
"We're not in it for the money -- there isn't much," Compton said. "We're a service-oriented group."
Compton and his wife, Sara, still sing in the choir at Collegiate Methodist Church in Ames, where they met as undergraduate students. Not one to leave a gap unfilled, Compton also serves as back-up conductor for that group.
And since 1992, Compton and music faculty member Robert Molison have co-produced Iowa State's annual Madrigal Dinner in January. Planning begins early in the fall and picks up steam by the winter holiday, Compton said. Both The Music Men and Chamber Singers perform at the Renaissance feast, so Compton does triple duty that weekend.
"I enjoy the performing more than the producing," he said. "I really like group performing."
No air time
Much as he likes music and performing, Compton said he
has no desire to merge the two on air for WOI Radio.
"Performing music and talking about it are two different things," he said. "I like the audition time and the preparation time that are part of getting music ready for consumption. You have to think fast when you're on air."
So for now, this music man will remain in the wings, keeping things organized and all the wheels turning.
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