Ron Parker DJ Obituary, Death – Veteran Radio Personality Dies at 71 After Brief Illness
ATLANTA — Veteran radio personality and programmer Ron Parker has died at the age of 71 following a brief illness, bringing an end to a broadcasting career that spanned more than five decades and some of the biggest radio markets in the United States.
Parker began his career remarkably young, entering radio at just 15 years old. A native of Atlanta, he later studied journalism at the University of Georgia while working at Athens stations including WJSR, WDOL and WRFC.
A Career Across America’s Radio Markets
Parker received his first major break in 1973 at Atlanta’s WQXI, beginning a career that would take him across the country.
He worked as both an on-air personality and programmer at stations including WLCY-AM/FM and WCKX in Tampa, WINZ-FM and WHYI in Miami, KKBQ-AM/FM in Houston, KFRC-AM/FM in San Francisco, WCBS-FM in New York and WLS-FM in Chicago.
His programming career included work with Power 92 KKFR in Phoenix, Satellite Music Network’s Hot AC network and K-Hits 107.5 KLDE in Houston. He also worked as a programmer for ABC Radio Networks.
Ron Parker and SiriusXM
The final 18 years of Parker’s career were spent with SiriusXM, where he became a familiar national voice on the company’s 60s and 70s gold channels.
His conversational and easygoing broadcasting style helped make him a distinctive presence for listeners. Even after decades in the industry, Parker maintained his enthusiasm for radio and music.
Parker once described himself as a radio “gypsy,” an apt description of a career that carried him from Atlanta to Tampa, Miami, Houston, San Francisco, New York and Chicago before reaching a national audience.
Honored by Radio Hall of Fame
Parker’s contributions to broadcasting were recognised through his induction into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in 2019.
He also served as a board member of Friends of Georgia Radio, remaining connected to the industry and the state where his career began.
Remembering Ron Parker
Colleagues remembered Parker as a natural broadcaster whose passion for radio never faded.
For more than five decades, his voice was part of the listening experience for audiences across multiple generations and markets. His career reflected the changing nature of American radio, from local stations to national satellite broadcasting.
Ron Parker will be remembered not only for the stations and programmes he helped shape, but also for the enthusiasm, personality and love of music he brought to broadcasting.
His death marks the loss of a veteran voice whose career helped connect listeners with radio and music for generations.
