J. Fred Knobloch is a singer-songwriter from Nashville (by way of Jackson, Miss.) whose recent hits include Faith Hill’s “If My Heart Had Wings” and George Strait’s “Meanwhile.” His song, “Why Not Me,” co-written with Carson Whitsett, reached No.1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No.18 on HOT 100. Knobloch also found success with Thom Schuyler and Craig Bickhardt, forming the group SKB, who claimed a No. 1 country record with “Baby’s Got A New Baby,” co-written by Knobloch with fellow Mississippian Dan Tyler.

Knobloch’s songs have been included on gold and platinum selling records by artists Faith Hill, George Strait, Delbert McClinton, Etta James, Ray Charles, Lorrie Morgan, John Anderson, Trisha Yearwood, Neal McCoy, Confederate Railroad, Sawyer Brown, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Kenny Rogers. Knobloch’s latest release is Live at the Bluebird with Jelly Roll Johnson.

A group of students performing hit songs from the ’90s.

Dr. Khayat served as the 15th chancellor of the University of Mississippi from 1995 until 2009. His memoir of those years, The Education of A Lifetime (Nautilus Publishing) won the 2014 Silver IPPY Award for best memoir in the nation published by a small press, bestowed each year by the Independent Publishers Association of America.

Khayat is a former college football All-Star, All-Pro kicker for the Washington Redskins, law professor, and president of the NCAA Foundation. He holds degrees from Ole Miss and Yale, and was an Academic All-American football and baseball player while at Ole Miss. He is also an amateur musician with an enthusiastic appreciation for country, blues and rock and roll.