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Robert Goldstein

Robert Goldstein died on Friday, October 7, 2016. You can learn more about Robert and read reflections from his colleagues on NPR.org here.

Robert Goldstein had one of the most unique positions in public radio: for nearly 20 years he served as NPR's only music librarian. He was the behind-the-scenes music adviser responsible for finding and recommending music used throughout NPR's award-winning programs. Susan Stamberg often referred to him as "NPR's secret weapon."

Goldstein's role included overseeing NPR's constantly growing music collection, developing music services and resources for NPR staff and serving as an advisor on NPR music initiatives, and most recently coordinating a project to design and develop a new NPR music database.

As a guitarist and songwriter, Goldstein composed and recorded musical scores for more than thirty films, television shows and theatrical productions for clients such as ABC News, PBS, Discovery Channel and The Kennedy Center. His band Urban Verbs recorded two albums for Warner Brothers Records and worked with Grammy-winning music producers Brian Eno and Steve Lillywhite. Along the way, Goldstein started what became Washington, DC's famed 9:30 Club.

He was a graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.