Notes of Gratitude – Full Article
May 2026
Notes of Gratitude: Fred and Rochelle Friedman – A Passion that Resonates
Written by Rebecca Juretic
Music has been a significant part of the lives of longtime SLO Symphony subscribers, Fred and Rochelle Friedman; in fact, it’s what brought them together.
Fred is a retired Cal Poly Engineering professor and firefighter for the City of Pismo Beach. But you more likely know him for his music-related pursuits. “Since 2002, I have worked part time at Boo Boo Records in SLO, my dream job,” he said. And for the past 46 years, he has been the host of Jazz Liner Notes, which airs on KCBX Radio on Thursday evenings from 10:00pm to midnight.
Rochelle was a professional chef for 55 years, working in San Francisco and Los Angeles before relocating to the Central Coast in 1989. Among her professional achievements is the establishment of Inn Paradiso in Paso Robles in the early 1990’s, “collaborating with the wine industry and hosting many community and private events,” she said.
Rochelle is also a jazz aficionado and was a longtime listener of Jazz Liner Notes when she wandered into Boo Boo Records in 2002. “I heard a voice I recognized,” she recalled. “I introduced myself for the first time as a fan of his radio show. That was the beginning of a wonderful life together with music and community, our common bond.”
The couple has stayed active and “connected to our community in many ways,” said Rochelle, “with commitment to the arts, music, music and music!” A large part of that has been involvement with the SLO Symphony, including being subscribers for 15 years.
After retiring in 2010, Rochelle caters occasionally but spends most of her time on other community-focused pursuits. She is a Master Gardener with U.C. Extension, a former Festival Mosaic Board Member, and has worked for the San Luis Obispo County Elections Department. She is a Charter Member of the National Women’s History Museum, Washington D.C.
Fred has served on the San Luis Obispo Symphony Board of Directors for six years and has been a charter member of the SLO County Jazz Federation for over 40 years.
Many of the Friedmans’ leisure activities involve music. They enjoy attending musical performances locally and around the state and have even hosted concerts at their home in Arroyo Grande. One of their favorite ways to support the arts is by being SLO Symphony subscribers.
“The performances are of such a high level, our souls are so satisfied after attending,”said Fred. “By being a season subscriber, we get our same seats every year which is a benefit we really enjoy.”
They recalled one of the most memorable concerts that they attended, featuring baritone Jubilant Sykes, in 2017. “He was one of my musical favorites,” Fred remembered. “He had a beautiful voice and there was a great variety in his song selections. It was a great experience to be able to see him in SLO at the Performing Arts Center.”
The Friedmans look forward to more excellent performances and new music to discover. “Music is so vital and important in my life. I am inspired when I hear it,” said Fred. “Life would hardly be worth living without it.”
