Willard Jenkins

Programmer, Open Sky

Willard Jenkins is the host of Open Sky, WPFW’s Sunday afternoon exploration of the classic and contemporary jazz landscapes. A veteran of the station since 1989, Willard brings a lived authority to the airwaves, drawing from a distinguished career as an arts administrator, broadcaster, and award-winning journalist. He currently serves as the Artistic Director of the DC Jazz Festival and was previously the executive director of the National Jazz Service Organization.

Willard’s immense contributions to the genre have been recognized at the highest levels. In 2024, he was honored with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Masters A.B. Spellman Award, adding to a legacy that includes a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Journalists Association. He is also a celebrated author, having penned African Rhythms and the award-winning Ain't But a Few of Us: Black Music Writers Tell Their Story.

A proud graduate of Kent State University, Willard has devoted his life’s work to uplifting jazz as a universal language borne out of the Black experience. Through Open Sky, he continues to provide a weekly sanctuary for listeners to discover both the foundational legends and the rising stars of jazz.