On Saturday evenings, Bill's Scottish side takes over with The Celtic Kaleidoscope, a weekly calendar of Celtic-related events plus hour-long shows, often featuring the music of local artists or international acts coming to town.

Bill became interested in Celtic music through The Thistle and Shamrock, one of his favorite programs on WBFO. He started with the tinwhistle at the Swannanoa Gathering in North Carolina, having studied with Grey Larson and John Skelton, before studying with Sean Ryan at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland.

Bill also plays the Celtic harp and has studied with Billy Jackson and Janet Harbison, the founder of the Belfast Harp Orchestra. You can hear Bill around Buffalo as part of the trio Hobson's Choice with Dave Johnston and Deb Andrasko and with fellow members of the Buffalo Irish Arts Society, of which Bill is currently the chair. Bill is also an Irish set and ceili dancer. Outside of Celtic music, Bill plays the organ and the clarinet.

Bill has taken four major trips to Celtic lands, visiting Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Northern Wales, and Cornwall . Once he makes it to the Isle of Man and Galicia, his life will be complete! Well, maybe Lithuania too.

Bill got his start in radio at WICB radio while earning his Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Economics from Ithaca College. He worked for three and a half years as the News Director of TV-8 in Glens Falls, New York - where he lived in Lake George and enjoyed summers at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

In 1992, Bill returned to Buffalo to attend the University at Buffalo Law School, graduated in 1996 and passed the New York State Bar Exam. He has the best of both worlds, able to call himself a lawyer when he wants but able to distance himself from the profession too. In order to pay the bills, Bill became a reporter at WEBR Newsradio 970. This made him think twice about giving up his communication interests altogether, so he started working towards his Master's Degree in the University at Buffalo Communication Department and ultimately a PhD in 2001. Bill became a Graduate Assistant at WBFO in July 1994 and joined the part-time staff in 1998, upon becoming an Assistant Professor in the Communication Department at Buffalo State College, where he teaches Broadcast Journalism, Interviewing, Media Law, and Media Literacy.

Finally, Bill has volunteered at the Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda since 1980. He was originally attracted by the Riviera's Mighty WurliTzer organ, but now can be found selling popcorn, emceeing the monthly theatre organ concerts, and updating the answering machine. He was Chairman of the Board in 1996.

Bill occasionally produces some special musical programs for WBFO, such as The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from Saint Paul's Cathedral in downtown Buffalo, more winter music with the Buffalo Choral Arts Society and the annual July 4th special with the American Legion Band of the Tonawandas. Bill even climbed up the ladder of a church bell tower to record the carillon at Calvary Episcopal Church in Williamsville. To prove his cultural diversity, he hosted WBFO's Sunday Polka show, and was reminded several times that he wasn't Polish! (Being part Lithuanian didn't count.)

In 2005, Bill married Eloisa Padilha, a Suzuki Method violin teacher and a native of Curitiba, Brazil who moved to Buffalo in 1999. Ever since, he has been flying South over the Atlantic more than East but did find an Irish pub near his in-laws' house. He also takes pride in pointing out that the name Brazil has Celtic orgins!

You can send Bill e-mail message at braffel@wbfo.org.