Host Of “Acoustic Storm” Dies At Age 67

0

Andy Denemark at United Stations Radio Networks shares the sad news that Jeff Parets, the host of the syndicated program The Acoustic Storm, passed away on Wednesday, November 7, after a battle with cancer. He was 67 years old.

Parets grew up in the New York City area and started in radio on the college radio station of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, before making his way out to the Phoenix, Arizona area not long after graduation. During his long tenure in the Phoenix market, Parets worked at various stations, and like anyone with radio in their blood he handled a variety of different jobs in radio — from news and weather chores to programming various genres of Rock radio. He was an award-winning broadcaster, having won eight broadcast journalism awards, including the only national first-place award in the Phoenix NPR affiliate’s (KJZZ) 50-year history.

In the late 90s, Parets started producing and hosting The Acoustic Storm on KSLX-FM in Phoenix. By 2003, the show was being syndicated independently by Parets, and at the start of 2007 he partnered with United Stations so that he could focus on the show and United Stations would handle affiliations, ad sales, and distribution of the 3-hour weekend program. The Acoustic Storm remains a mainstay of USRN’s Classic Rock and Classic Hits lineup. Denemark said, “Jeff was a gentle soul and a gentleman. He treated music and radio respectfully, and he recognized both as important art forms. We were lucky to have a partnership where we were mutually proud of our professional and our personal relationships, and he will be missed.”

Jeff Parets leaves behind his wife, Audrey, and his brothers Rick and Andy. Audrey will ensure that The Acoustic Storm continues to live on in accordance with her husband’s final wishes. A celebration of Paret’s life is being planned for early 2019. In lieu of flowers, the Parets family requests that anyone wishing to commemorate Jeff make a donation in his name to the Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA. Please follow the Acoustic Storm Facebook page for event details on the life celebration and how to make a donation to AAWL.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here