Jad Abumrad

Jad Abumrad
Born 18 April 1973
Nationality USA
Alma mater Oberlin College
(B.A. 1995)
Occupation Public radio host and producer
Notable work Radiolab
Spouse(s) Karla Murthy
Children 2
Awards 2011 MacArthur Fellow

Jad Abumrad (born 18 April 1973)[1][2] is a Lebanese-American radio host, composer, and producer. He is founder and co-host of the syndicated public radio program Radiolab.

Early life and education

Abumrad was raised in Tennessee where he attended the University School of Nashville and[3] where his father, Naji Abumrad, is a doctor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.[4] Abumrad attended Oberlin College, where he studied creative writing and music composition with a special interest in electronic and electroacoustic music,[5] receiving his B.A. in 1995.[6]

Career

Before choosing radio as a career, Abumrad composed film scores.[7]

Abumrad has reported and produced documentaries for a number of local and National Public Radio programs, including On the Media, PRI's Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen, Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Democracy Now!, and WNYC's "24 Hours at the Edge of Ground Zero".[7]

Since 2005, Abumrad has produced and co-hosted the nationally syndicated program Radiolab.[6] His background in music has influenced the sound of Radiolab.[8] The 14 December 2009 Radiolab episode In C includes a musical piece by Abumrad remixing the Terry Riley composition In C.[9]

Abumrad was named a 2011 MacArthur Fellow; the foundation cited his "engaging audio explorations of scientific and philosophical questions" which "captivate listeners and bring to broadcast journalism a distinctive new aesthetic", while using "his background as a composer to orchestrate dialogue, music, and sound effects into compelling documentaries that draw listeners into investigations of otherwise intimidating topics."[6]

Personal life

In 2007, he married his college sweetheart, Karla Murthy, who works as a television producer;[10] the couple have two children.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Van Mourik, Orli. "Tuning into Radio Lab’s strange frequency". The Villager.
  2. ↑ Horne, Ellen (18 April 2008). "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAD!!!". Radiolab. WNYC.
  3. ↑ http://www.radiolab.org/2007/may/17/
  4. ↑ Radiolab, "Placebo," Show 301, Friday, 18 May 2007
  5. ↑ "About: Radiolab", radiolab.org
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Jad Abumrad". John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Abumrad, Jad. "About the Staff". Archived from the original on 1 May 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
  8. ↑ The Sound of Young America: Podcast: Radiolab's Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich
  9. ↑ Radio Lab, "In C," 14 December 2009. Online: http://blogs.wnyc.org/radiolab/2009/12/14/in-c/
  10. ↑ "Staff Profiles". NOW on PBS.
  11. ↑ "After Birth". Radiolab (blog). 24 August 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2012. Jad—a brand new father...

See also