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 It is with great sorrow that
this month’s profile serves to say goodbye to a former producer for KUT,
Lawrence Glenn “Larry” Roark. Killed in an automobile accident on
March 6th, Larry will remain in our hearts as not only a very gifted
producer, but even more, a wonderful friend whose gentle manner and easy
smile was a gift to us all.
Larry joined the staff of KUT in the late eighties, producing one
of the Overnite programs. In addition to his weekly late
night shift, Larry frequently substituted for other program hosts when
they were out, most often on Eklektikos when John Aielli
was on vacation.
“I was always gratified to learn when Larry was scheduled to sit in on my
show,” John recalls, “because I knew that I could trust him to play a
wide range of music that reflected the scope of the program.”
Graduating from Austin’s Reagan High School in 1973, Larry attended North
Texas State University, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in
music theory in 1978. After college, he served on the staff of Texas
Women’s University in Denton directing stage lighting and then played
euphonium with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus Band for several
seasons.
Upon returning to Austin, Larry performed with many groups, including the
Austin Symphony, the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, the Austin
Klezmorim, the Scholz Garden Wurst Polka Band, the Vacillating
Discombobulators, and the First Baptist Church Voice and Handbell
Choirs.
Larry, a lifelong musician, founded Music of the Spheres ® , Inc.
in 1989, which produces the “Stradivarius of wind chimes” here in Austin.
Larry had a passion for beauty and spirituality, which he expressed
through his music. That same sensitivity was evident in his art
photography. His wind chimes and his images of the natural world were
displayed at such events as the Armadillo Chris, Inc.as Bazaar in Austin and
the Texas Renaissance Festival near Houston.
On March 8th, John Aielli honored Larry’s memory by playing an hour-long
musical tribute on Eklektikos. Larry’s memorial service,
held March 9th at First Baptist Church, was filled with performances by
gifted musicians with whom Larry had played, including The Creative
Opportunity Orchestra and Jyl Hershman-Ross of Two O’Clock Courage.
Recordings of both the service and the tribute on Eklektikos
are available to anyone who wants them by calling (512) 789-5538
or by emailing. Larry’s
wind chimes and photographs will still be commercially available.
Join us again on May 15th as John celebrates Larry’s birthday on Eklektikos
with a program featuring more of Larry’s favorite music. The birthday
tribute will also be recorded and available in the same fashion.
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