Berkeley Calling! Jan 6, 2013
Jon Fromer, an award-winning Bay Area television producer and folk musician who tirelessly championed civil and labor rights, died on Jan. 2 at his home in Mill Valley. He was 66.
The cause was stomach cancer, said his wife of 42 years, Mary Fromer.
For years, Jon Fromer produced a variety of programs for KQED-TV, including the science show "Quest" and comedian Will Durst's talk show "The Durst Amendment." He also composed the theme song for "We Do the Work," a PBS series about America's working class.
During his 20-plus-year run at the station, he won several awards, including 13 Northern California Emmys, one national Emmy and two Iris Awards from the National Association of Television Program Executives.
Mr. Fromer also worked at KRON, producing beloved children's programs such as "Git Box Tickle," "Just Kidding" and "Home Turf."
But Mr. Fromer's true passion was making protest music. With his wife, he frequently performed at labor rallies, civil rights demonstrations and even inside prisons.
"He was a fighter for anyone who was maltreated or mistreated," she said.
Mr. Fromer founded the Freedom Song Network, a coalition of Bay Area musicians dedicated to promoting human rights, and performed annually at the School of the Americas Watch Vigil in Fort Benning, a military training base near Columbus, Ga.
In 2011, Mr. Fromer was honored with the Joe Hill Artist Lifetime Achievement Award from the Labor Heritage Foundation.
"I'm probably biased, but he was one of the most powerful singers one could hear," said David Fromer, his brother. "He was rare in his power. When he sang with full force, it felt like the walls of the room were shaking."
Jon Fromer was born on May 11, 1946, in Chicago, to parents Katherine, a schoolteacher, and Irving Fromer, an architectural draftsman. They moved to San Francisco's Richmond District in 1950, where Jon Fromer attended Presidio Hill School. His family had deep roots in folk music and activism, counting Pete Seeger and Studs Terkel as close friends.
At 18, Mr. Fromer took part in the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, a trip that reaffirmed his devotion to justice and the power of music.
With his brother, he formed the folk trio Jonathan, David and Elbert. The group released an album, "3 New Guys With New Ideas About Singing," on Mercury Records, touring arenas with Henry Mancini and recording with Glen Campbell.
Mr. Fromer was also an avid soccer player. In 1976 he became an alternate for the U.S. men's soccer team in the Summer Olympics.
When Mr. Fromer was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, he left his day job but continued to perform on union picket lines and at local venues such as La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley.
In July, he premiered a song there called "Waves," a duet with his wife, that struck a more tender note: "Sitting here watching the waves roll in/ Blue green water and cool sea wind/ I'm breathing out and I'm breathing in your love."
He recorded a handful of new songs just days before he passed away.
"He sounds so wonderful in those recordings, you can't imagine it's someone dying, barely able to converse," said David Fromer.
Mr. Fromer also completed a novel, "Gabriel's Horn," which the family hopes to publish posthumously.
In addition to his wife and brother, Mr. Fromer is survived by a stepson, Mark Mackbee; grandson Shay Mackbee; and sister, Ann Fromer-Spake.
No public memorial plans have been announced.
Aidin Vaziri is The San Francisco Chronicle's pop music critic. E-mail: avaziri@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MusicSF
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Jon-Fromer-musician-and-producer-dies-4177500.php