HOUSTON, TEXAS — Ron Parker, the veteran radio personality and programmer whose career stretched across nearly six decades, has died at the age of 74.

Parker, whose birth name was Ronald Ferrazzuolo, died in Houston on August 28, 2026, following a brief illness, according to his obituary. He was widely recognized within the American radio industry for his work as an on-air personality and programmer and for his later years as a national voice on SiriusXM.

His death marks the passing of a broadcaster whose career began when he was a teenager and continued through major changes in the American radio industry, from traditional terrestrial broadcasting to satellite radio.

Ron Parker's Early Life and Radio Career

Ron Parker was born Ronald Ferrazzuolo on April 15, 1952, in New York City. According to his obituary, he grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended Briarcliff High School before graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication in 1975.

Parker discovered his interest in radio at a young age. He obtained an FCC third-class license when he was 14 and began his broadcasting career as a teenager. His early work included radio stations in Athens, Georgia, before he moved into larger markets.

His first major-market opportunity came at Atlanta's WQXI in 1973. From there, his career expanded across the United States.

Career Across Major Radio Markets

Over the course of his career, Parker worked in several of America's major radio markets.

His professional history included stops at WLCY in Tampa, KFRC in San Francisco, stations in Miami, KKBQ and KLDE in Houston, WCBS-FM in New York and WLS-FM in Chicago. He also held programming positions and worked with ABC Radio Networks.

Parker's career was notable because he successfully worked both sides of the radio industry. He was known not only as an on-air personality but also as a programmer and music director.

His ability to remain active across different radio formats and markets helped establish him as a respected figure among broadcasting professionals.

Ron Parker and SiriusXM's 70s on 7

Parker joined Sirius Satellite Radio in July 2008, shortly before the company's merger with XM. He subsequently became part of SiriusXM's decade-based music programming.

In his later years, Parker was particularly associated with SiriusXM's 70s on 7, a channel dedicated to popular music from the 1970s.

SiriusXM describes 70s on 7 as a channel focused on the biggest pop music of the decade, and its current channel information continues to list Ron Parker among its personalities.

For listeners, Parker's presence on the channel represented a continuation of a radio career built around music, conversation and a direct connection with audiences.

A Broadcaster Remembered by Colleagues

Parker's professional relationships extended across decades and multiple radio markets.

SiriusXM music programming executive Lou Simon remembered Parker as a dedicated radio professional who loved being on the air, his listeners and his coworkers. Fellow programmer Brian Thomas also recalled working with Parker across several major markets during their careers.

Those tributes reflect the impact Parker had beyond his work behind the microphone. His career connected him with generations of radio professionals while his voice reached listeners across the country.

Recognition in the Radio Industry

Parker's contributions to American broadcasting received formal recognition.

He was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in 2019. He also served on the board of Friends of Georgia Radio.

The honors reflected a career that crossed multiple generations of radio and included work in some of the industry's most recognizable markets.

Ron Parker's Final Years in Radio

Even after decades in traditional radio, Parker continued working in broadcasting.

His move to SiriusXM allowed him to reach a national audience while remaining connected to the music and radio culture that had defined his professional life.

RAMP reported that Parker spent approximately 18 years with SiriusXM and was most recently heard on weekends on 70s on 7.

His continued presence on the air demonstrated his enduring connection to radio and to the listeners who followed his career.

Ron Parker Obituary and Death

Ron Parker died in Houston on August 28, 2026, at the age of 74, following a brief illness. His published obituary identifies him by his birth name, Ronald Arthur Ferrazzuolo, and confirms his professional identity as Ron Parker.

His death has prompted tributes from members of the radio industry and former colleagues who worked with him during his extensive career.

According to Radio-Online, Parker's career spanned more than five decades and included work as both a radio personality and programmer before his final years with SiriusXM.

Funeral and Memorial Arrangements

According to the published obituary, Parker's wishes call for a private interment for immediate family.

Additional public memorial details were not identified in the sources reviewed.

Remembering Ron Parker

Ron Parker leaves behind a legacy built around radio.

From his early days broadcasting as a teenager in Georgia to major-market radio stations and eventually SiriusXM, Parker spent nearly six decades pursuing the profession he had chosen at a young age.

His work reached listeners across generations, while his experience as both an air personality and programmer earned him respect throughout the broadcasting industry.

For longtime radio listeners, his voice became part of the soundtrack of their lives. For fellow broadcasters, his career represented a remarkable journey through many eras of American radio.

Ron Parker's death marks the loss of a veteran broadcaster whose career remained closely connected to music, radio and the audiences he served.