Remembering Frank Cody

• We join the rest of the industry in mourning the passing of Frank Cody, best known as “The Father of Smooth Jazz,” the architect of KTWV (94.7 The Wave)/Los Angeles, and the co-founder (with Owen Leach) of Broadcast Architecture, who died Wednesday, July 19 at home in Galisteo, New Mexico after a long battle with cancer.

Cody was also the Program Director of NBC’s The Source radio network, where he guided the development of Dr. Ruth, Live from the Hard Rock Café with Paul Shaffer, The Jazz Show with David Sanborn and executive produced over 50 live-via-satellite concerts.

Veteran programmer and consultant Bob Lawrence, currently GM of RAB’s National Radio Talent System, had the privilege of working with Cody back in the day at Broadcast Architecture. “Frank was one of the most enlightened, kindest, gentlest, smartest souls I’ve ever known. We traveled the world together from 1988-1998 at BA.” Lawrence added, “When my daughter was born three months early, Frank was the first boss to ever say, ‘Family first. Don’t worry. Do whatever you need to do.’ I spent the next six weeks at the hospital with my daughter and I was still paid without question. He always said, ‘You’re family, Bob. Take care of the baby!’ I never forgot that and adopted that myself when I ran my company or was a Market Manager. I loved and respected Frank and learned so much from him. He made me a better person. RIP my dear, sweet friend.”

Frank Cody is survived by his husband of ten years, Terry Rich, who, in a beautiful social media post said of Cody, “He was so many things – kind-hearted, creative, and optimistic. Adventurous. He was a natural leader and ambitious in a contagious way that expressed his enthusiasm for life and work. And of course he loved music. Boy, did he love music. As a teenager, he would create his own world alone in his bedroom, surrounded by the music of Bartok, Dvorak, Bacharach and the songs of Jackie and Roy, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Nat King Cole, Dave Brubeck, Nancy Wilson and so may more!”

Rich added, “Later there may be a get-together to remember his beautiful spirit and generosity and of course his sense of humor which was always hovering in the ether. In the meantime, you may wish to check out the website I created for him — FrankCody.com.”