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In Memoriam: Gene Parrish, 82

January 12, 2009 12:52 PM

  • In Memoriam: Gene Parrish, 82
  • Gene Parrish

Longtime Classical KUSC broadcaster Gene Parrish died of lung cancer Jan. 2 at his Hermosa Beach home. He was 82.

A memorial service will be held Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. in the Mark Taper Auditorium of the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles. Parking is available at 524 S. Flower St.

Parrish was a much-loved voice on the station for more than 25 years. Most recently, he was heard on Arts Alive, Spotlight and in a recorded broadcast aired Jan. 4 in which he hosted the station’s annual broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera’s western regional finals concert from Bovard Auditorium.

Parrish studied theatre at Occidental College. His radio career began in 1973 at KQED-FM in San Francisco, where he co-produced and hosted five seasons of San Francisco Opera broadcasts on National Public Radio.

Between 1979 and 1988, he traveled around the world, including six annual visits to Finland for the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival; an award-winning series on Netherlands/U.S. relations in Holland; a chamber music series in Sweden; and a San Francisco Opera project with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China.

From 1984 to 2008, he was a host and producer on KUSC. He also was the voice of the nationally syndicated Worldwide Jazz, of which he hosted and produced more than 800 programs.

Recent projects included a documentary commemorating the centenary of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and a tribute to Duke Ellington.

For many lovers of choral music across the country, Parrish was known for hosting and producing more than 400 broadcasts of the weekly program The First Art, which aired on many NPR stations.

Parrish is survived by Eleanor, his wife of 53 years; sons Kurt and Scott; and two grandchildren.