(born 30 July 1926, Boston, Massachusetts; died 29 April 2021, Aventura, Florida) was an American radio broadcaster. Music director and program director of WQXR New York from 1956-1967. He was the host and commentator for the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestra radio broadcasts, and a charter member of the reviewing panel for the nationally syndicated radio program
First Hearing. Mr. Bookspan was the host of NPR's
Composer's Forum in the 1970s, and a writer for
Stereo Review Magazine. He also wrote liner notes for many classical recordings. Mr. Bookspan inaugurated the series
Live From Lincoln Center in 1976 and was the commentator for the show's first thirty years.