Frank Cody, was my friend and NBC colleague, a music programmer, and “The Father of Smooth Jazz”. Cody died at the age of 75.
Francis R. Cody June 13, 1948–July 19, 2023, was an American record producer, A&R, and radio executive. He was once described by the R&R Magazine as well as The New York Times as "Smooth Jazz's Leading Alchemist" and "The Father of Smooth Jazz"
Frank had a stellar career and when we were hired by NBC Suits to launch The Source, a Radio Network designed for 18+ year-olds, he was the music and features producer while I was the news and public affairs guy. We were young, full of energy, and had great ideas. Now I’m seasoned, experienced, and still, keep up with the best.
Cody moved from Denver to 95.5 KLOS Los Angeles as Program Director in the late 70s after launching KBPI. We met at NBC Radio where he served as Program Director overseeing their entertainment networks and “The Source”. There Frank developed Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Paul Shaffer, and David Sanborn and other popular programs.
In the late 80s, Cody joined 94.7 KMET Los Angeles with the intent to either revitalize or conduct research on a new direction for the station. That would lead to the launch of “94.7 The Wave” KTWV and the popular format known as Smooth Jazz.
Frank Cody wrote, “Living in New York City at the time and working at NBC, I was amazed that FM radio overlooked the Grammy™ Award-Winning Album of the Year, Paul Simon’s “Graceland.” But that was just a small indication of the wealth of jazz, new age, elegant urban, and radio’s fear of trying something truly new and revolutionary. We were awash with fresh, new music that was shared by friends, but dismissed by most programmers: David Sanborn, the entire GRP catalog, dozens of Contemporary Jazz artists, Sade, Sting, and many more.
We believed people our age deserved a spot on the dial for something a bit better than the trite, trivial tunes aimed at the lowest common denominator and repeated over and over. We created three distinctive prototype formats: “The Rock & Roll Adventure,” Contemporary Spanish Language, and The WAVE, which ultimately became known as Smooth Jazz. We also positioned the station to be free of endless, inane chatter by declaring ‘…and no disc jockeys.’ Turns out, The WAVE grew to become the top billing station in Southern California and the beginning of the first new radio format in over 30 years: Smooth Jazz.”
He was truly a smooth operator. Frank is a tremendously creative talent with warmth, people-oriented energy, and spirit in all his endeavors. Cody guided the development of The WAVE format at KTWV, Los Angeles.
Frank’s husband Terry Rich wrote, “Many of you know both me and Frank. We have been partners for a long time and got married ten years ago. I am saddened to pass along the news that Frank passed away on Wednesday (July 19) here at home in Galisteo, New Mexico. 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 world alone in his bedroom, surrounded by the music of Bartok, Dvorak, and Bacharach and the songs of Jackie and Roy, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Nat King Cole, Dave Brubeck, Nancy Wilson and so many more! 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,"
FRANK CODY https://frankcody.com/