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John Rabe
Production & Promotions Director
John Rabe is KPCC's Production & Promotions Director, a post he assumed in July of 2017 after 35 years behind the mike. His job is to shape the sound of the station.
From 2006 to 2017, John was producer and host of Off-Ramp, twice named the nation's "best local public affairs show." Before that, Rabe was the station's housing & healthcare reporter and local host for "All Things Considered."
Rabe began his career as a commercial DJ in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but he found his niche as reporter and anchor at Michigan State University's public radio station, where he half-heartedly earned his BA in English. Rabe has also worked in public radio in South Florida, Philadelphia, and Minnesota.
Rabe lives with Julian Bermudez, his art curator husband, and their Irish terriers in the foothills of Mt Washington.
Stories by John Rabe
Song of the Week: Crying, in the rain, because Willie Nelson's Bako concerts are sold out?
Nelson wrote many great songs but "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," a breakout hit for the singer, was written by Fred Rose back in 1947, and was first performed by Roy Acuff. It was allegedly the last song Elvis ever sang.
Simpsons' Dan Castellaneta writes, stars in play about Oscar Levant
The voice of Homer Simpson, Dan Castellaneta, is bringing a a celebrity who died in 1972 back to life in the new play "For Piano and Harpo." Who? "It's Oscar Levant, you musical ignoramus!"
Off-Ramp's Song of the Week salutes songwriter Mac Davis on his 75th birthday
Usually, Off-Ramp's Song of the Week features a local act, or a national act playing a cool local gig. But this time, we want to help a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame blow out the 75 candles on his cake.
Garrison Keillor calls impressionist Jim Meskimen and forgets the question
The words "incautiously," "rhubarb," and "behind" figure prominently in the latest celebrity interview by Off-Ramp's favorite impressionist, Jim Meskimen.
Lynne Westmore Bloom, the 'man' who painted Malibu's Pink Lady
Lynne Westmore Bloom, who died Friday at 81, wasn't going to come out as the person behind Malibu's Pink Lady until a County Supervisor assumed the prankster artist was a man.
RIP Formosa Cafe: Hollywood watering hole, touchstone for generations
The Formosa Cafe has closed after 90+ years of being a Who's Who of Hollywood history. With luck, a responsible owner will rehab it. Until then, we have the fiction and the movies it was a touchstone for.
Luther and LACMA: An amazing response from an Off-Ramp listener
Note to LACMA: Hire this guy! This is the kind of smart, nuanced, passionate view museum-goers would connect with!
Song of the Week: K-Syran's first US tour comes to LA
K-Syran's tune "Intimacy" was the official anthem of the UN's International Women’s Day in 2016, and she's making her first US tour, with a stop at The Mint on Monday.
'Elote is just corn on the cob, you hipster gabacho!' ... and 9 other Mexican foods to stop festishizing
From tacos to avocados, the OC Weekly's Gustavo Arellano starts 2017 with ten Mexican dishes that need a moratorium in the hands of hipster chefs.
Saving Lytton Savings, a mid-century modern masterpiece
We go to the iconic Lytton Savings building to hear why it shouldn't fall to the wrecking ball for another Frank Gehry project.
So long, KUSC's Rich Capparela: Classical music, without the 'strategically placed stick'
Classical DJ Rich Capparela has been bringing his "subversive" brand to the afternoon drive on KUSC for ten years; he's cutting back to Friday's only to start his "new chapter."
Song of the Week: The Muff's "That Awful Man"
"Shattuck’s sugary pop hooks and punky attitude nestled right in with the pop-punk explosion."
Expert: Ghost Ship blaze could have happened here in Southern California
Bill Murphy, a former fire marshal and current instructor at the Rio Hondo Fire Academy, says it is easy to find warehouses like Ghost Ship in LA. And he says he hopes it'll lead to lasting policy changes.
Cocktail history: The adult beverage trends of 1966
The annual holiday light show is back at the L.A. Zoo, and they're celebrating the zoo's 50th birthday with a 1966 cocktail night. So, what were people drinking 50 years ago?
Vincent Price's daughter on fear, love and 'The Fly,' at Vincent Price Art Museum
Victoria Price: "We could go down our own rabbit hole of fear, but I really feel that all of life comes down to two choices, love or fear. And one of the ways we can manifest love, is to keep making art that speaks against fear."
