Gary Calamar

Gary Calamar

Host of 'Gary Calamar'

The first light young Mr. Calamar saw was on a movie screen. He was vaccinated with a phonograph needle.

Born in the shadows of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx NY, Gary first found his passions lit when his parents took him to see West Side Story. By the time A Hard Days Night and Goldfinger came out, he was hooked on the explosive combination of movies and music.

He traveled west in the early 80’s, landing in Los Angeles. In need of a job that would ensure him a steady flow of promotional records and free concert tickets, Gary stepped behind a cash register and worked retail. He was managing a Licorice Pizza record store, as 12-inch vinyl records turned into 5-inch digital discs, and later moved on to Rhino Records, mixing with the customers and building up his music collection.

In the mid 90’s Gary started as a volunteer at KCRW. After (literally) getting down on his knees and begging music director Chris Douridas for a radio show he was given a shot.  Gary’s unique brand of “adventurous pop music both timely and timeless” proved to be a hit. His show currently airs Sunday nights from 9-midnight.  Through the years Gary has hosted live performances and interviews with musical greats ranging from Brian Wilson and Elmer Bernstein to Wilco and The Flaming Lips.  

In 1998 Gary broke into the music supervision game and tackled the movie Varsity Blues, resulting in a #1 box office hit and a soundtrack album certified gold.

At the turn of the century, Gary, along with friend and fellow music supervisor Thomas Golubic, oversaw the music for the HBO original series Six Feet Under and were nominated for Grammy Awards for producing both volumes of the Six Feet Under soundtracks.

Never one to keep his feet on the ground, you can also hear Gary while flying the musical skies of Delta Airlines where he hosts a show for Delta Radio.

He lives in a lovely home in Los Angeles with his lovely wife and their amazing daughter.

Gary Calamar on KCRW

Record store Amoeba Music is leaving its long-time Hollywood home.

After decades in Hollywood, Amoeba Music is leaving. But where to?

Record store Amoeba Music is leaving its long-time Hollywood home.

from Greater LA

José Galván fills in for Gary Calamar.

José Galván Guest Hosts

José Galván fills in for Gary Calamar.

from Gary Calamar

Gary Calamar showcases adventurous pop music, both timely and timeless. Listen on demand to the latest show.

Latest Show

Gary Calamar showcases adventurous pop music, both timely and timeless. Listen on demand to the latest show.

from Gary Calamar

More from KCRW

Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores talks about the immigration raids in his city and decries the use of the National Guard and U.S. Marines amid protests.

from KCRW Features

ICE raids and chaotic downtown streets are bad enough for adults, but how are kids handling all this?

from KCRW Features

You’ve heard of ballroom dancing? Tuxedos, waltz music — forget all that. Queer “ballroom” is raw, edgy, and gritty. Balls are popping up all over LA.

from KCRW Features

Six months after the deadly Eaton Fire, residents are still dealing with a lasting wound: collective trauma.

from KCRW Features

“Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” premiered 40 years ago in theaters. Former cast members will reunite for a show at the Alex Theater in Glendale on June 14.

from KCRW Features

A young girl in Bakersfield, who’s being treated in Los Angeles for a life-threatening condition, will get to stay in the country for at least a year after being told she and her…

from KCRW Features

A series of ICE raids across Southern California could take away Republicans’ momentum among Latino voters.

from KCRW Features

The Buss family, who owns the Los Angeles Lakers, has agreed to sell the team’s majority ownership in a deal with LA Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter.

from KCRW Features

The Rent Brigade says that six months after the January wildfires in Southern California, some landlords are still engaging in rent gouging.

from KCRW Features