Sikeston native may become a member of national arts council

Terry Teachout has an extremely impressive resume. He is the drama critic for "The Wall Street Journal," a book reviewer for the National Review, a New York Times contributor, arts columnist for the Sunday edition of the Washington Post and the author of several books, just to name some of his jobs. Now Teachout may be able to add member of the National Council on the Arts to that extensive list.

President Bush nominated Teachout, a Sikeston, Mo., native, and an art museum director, James Ballinger, for the council positions, which now must be confirmed by the Senate.

The National Council on the Arts is the advisory board for the National Endowment for the Arts, its members advising the NEA on policy, programs and procedures. Members serve on the council for a six-year term.

Although he is extraordinarily honored by the nomination, Teachout said he was initially concerned about the time commitment involved in being a council member. Ultimately though, Teachout came to view serving on the council as a great opportunity to support the arts.

"I really feel it is my duty to give something back to the arts, which has given so much to me. The arts mean everything to me," Teachout said.

The arts, especially music, have been a part of Teachout's life since he was a boy growing up in Sikeston.

"His interests were pretty much what they are now," said Terry's younger brother, David Teachout, who is mayor pro-tem of Sikeston. "Terry was caught up in music and books as well."

"We encouraged him," said his mother Evelyn Teachout. "Any encouragement we gave he gladly accepted."

In high school Teachout was involved in the school band and a country band called Sour Mash. He also was editor of the school newspaper.

Teachout's love of writing and music came together during his time at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., where he received degrees in journalism and music. He also started writing music reviews for the Kansas City Star and Times.

"I realized finally that what I did best was write, not play music. What made sense for me was to write about music because I was so deeply involved in it," he said.

After graduating from college, Teachout remained at the Star and Times, serving as the newspaper's music critic from 1977 to 1983. In 1984, Teachout left the newspaper to attend the University of Illinois-Urbana and receive a psychology degree, but packed up after a year to work as editor for Harper's magazine in New York City.

Evelyn Teachout remembers when she learned about her son's decision to move to New York.

"He called and wanted to meet us for lunch and said he wanted to tell us something. That was enough to scare us to death," she said. Evelyn Teachout admits to being stunned at first by her son telling her he had accepted a job in New York City, but then told him that if it was what he wanted to do he should go to it.

"Of course you're nervous, he's your child. I knew he could do it, but I hated to have him so far away. Moms like to be there for their children," she said.

Teachout's brother was far less surprised by Terry's move. "I knew eventually he'd have to move somewhere to do what he wanted to do, it made sense. I figured he had gotten as far as he could go where he was," David Teachout said.

Once in New York, Teachout's career started to accelerate. After serving as Harper's editor for two years, he started freelancing full-time, working for several newspapers and magazines.

He has also managed to contribute to and edit several books since leaving Harper's. In 1991, Teachout's reflections on his boyhood in Sikeston, "City Limits: Memories of a Small-town Boy," were published.

Growing up in Southeast Missouri is something Teachout views fondly and he usually returns about three times a year. His mother still lives in the house he grew up in and his brother lives just down the road from her.

"This is where our roots are, this is where our morals and values were created," David Teachout said. "If he could do what he does here, that's where he'd be."

In May, "The Terry Teachout Reader," a collection of 15-years worth of Teachout's essays, was released and a biography of George Balachine that he wrote is being released in November. Teachout has just started work on a biography of Louis Armstrong and he is the author and editor of "About Last Night," a daily arts blog hosted by artsjournal.com.

"I have a very full plate," Teachout said. Being involved in so many projects, however, means that he never tires of his job.

"I love what I do, nobody could have a better job," he said.

He is also ready to take on his new job possibility.

"I'm 48, I've spent my entire adult life working with the arts, so yes, I feel prepared."

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182