Carl Crane Brazell Jr.

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Carl Crane Brazell Jr. died November 27, 2020 of Covid-19 after a life-long struggle with heart disease. Devoted family members were omnipresent in Carl’s final days in hospice at home in Breaux Bridge, LA, his adopted hometown. Carl, a gentle giant among broadcasting titans; a self-taught musician, chef, historian, and business executive; radio trailblazer for six decades; a husband Susan dubbed “The Big Guy;” was nearly 80 years old. He was born December 5, 1940. Raised in Crowley, LA, by parents, Doris & Carl Sr, youthful Carl was smitten by local culture, music, customs, amidst its array of generations. Notably, Carl’s humble upbringing included an emphasis on etiquette; his mother said manners were simply a reflection of respect for others. At age 14, with a husky, robust and trusting voice within a towering physique, Carl, or Mr. B, began a nighttime gig at KSIG; he spun rock and roll and learned radio’s rules and power. He got a second show after teaching himself French, with Cajun nuances, that he programmed in French for the region’s Acadiana audience. After one college semester in Lafayette, Carl left when Houston KTRH News Director Dan Rather offered the 18-year-old a reporting job. Concurrently, he married Carol Comeaux of Rayne, LA, and they quickly started a family with the births of Christine, Cynthia and Carl III. In the tumultuous ‘60s, Carl covered KKK rallies, James Meredith’s entrance to Ole Miss, multiple hurricanes & JFK’s assassination. His reportorial skills and dominant voice led to advancing jobs in LA, Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit; his management skills resulted in the GM position at New York’s WNEW. In 1978, Carl became GM at KRLD, Dallas; the station also had the rights to broadcast the Dallas Cowboys, a partnership Carl enhanced and prioritized. He established the vision for KRLD to be 24-hour all-news and dominate the radio news market. It was accomplished in three years; the station maintains the format still today. Even without a college degree, Carl was elevated to lead all of Metromedia’s radio operations in the US in 1982. Known as demanding and respectful, Carl hired problem-solvers, capable of flexibility and growth. Legions of managers & on-air talents became successful under Carl’s tutelage. They love to recall his winking taunt, “If it was easy, we would have hired somebody good.” Carl’s career path skyrocketed in the late ‘80s and ‘90s when he purchased and then sold eleven Metromedia radio stations, briefly running his own company, Command Communications. He scaled back following a three-way sale that allowed Carl to keep control of KRLD & Texas State Network and assume control of LA’s KJOI as well as KHOW and KSYY in Denver. Rarely does a news reporter rise to the top of the industry. Carl loved (almost) every minute of his radio career. In the late ‘90s, he returned to Metromedia as president of Metromedia International Group. Transformed into a private sector ambassador, Carl built the first western radio presence in Russia and other former Soviet countries. After his marriage to television executive Susan Ziller in 1982, the pair established a homestead in NYC and later Redding, CT, the latter a move both called transformative and essential that deepened and helped build a base for a loving, blended family since both Susan and daughter Michelle had joined the unit. Initially schooled in Louisiana, Carl advanced his chef skills while living in Connecticut, through cookbook studies and kitchen experiments. Friends and family will miss Carl’s from-scratch, Louisiana-style chicken & sausage gumbo, Jambalaya and his Grillades and Grits. Family lore claims gumbo was the grandchildren’s first solid food. Concurrently, Carl began his self-education to play the Cajun accordion. In 2006, Carl & Susan retired and moved to Breaux Bridge, a place they often visited. By then, Carl was addicted to his accordion player, a difficult instrument and one of the few things that intimidated him. He relished attending weekly jams at the Savoy Music Center and having conversations in French with the state’s acclaimed old-timer musicians. Carl also treasured his spectacular library of books he read and reread for his self-directed learning mission. During this period, Carl and Susan committed to becoming the best grandparents and great grandparents ever. Poppy (Carl) and Goggy (Susan) regularly produced memorable moments for the children. Carl organized fishing trips, golf outings, gumbo cooking lessons, accordion play, travel to diverse domains and, of course, etiquette training, including the art of eye contact with a firm handshake. Jointly, the pair focused on activities that built positive experiences and a loving spirit. They also focused on each other, as well as Beau, a King Charles mix who welcomed lounging with Carl. Every Wednesday, at Café des Ami, Carl and & Susan dazzled others with their ability to turn a mean two-step on the dance floor. Yes, Carl taught himself that skill too. For years, the duo debated politics or hot topics with each other or invited guests. Those discussions could last hours. Evenings likely included Carl’s storytelling; he could mimic accents and character gestures for rapt audiences. The narratives accompanied by Carl’s quick wit were teaching tools for grandchildren and reliable entertainment for friends. You could bank on terrific tales from him, punctuated by a giant belly laugh in the finale. And now, Carl’s story has come to the final chapter. The family wishes to thank Drs. Hector Robles, John LeLeux, Andy Blalock, as well as Heart of Hospice, especially case manager Jennifer Domec for their professional and loving care and counsel. Carl is survived by his wife Susan; brother William “Buddy” Brazell and Noy; daughters Christine Evans, her husband Dave and Cynthia Harris and husband Kevin and Michelle Baier with spouse, Steve; son Carl Brazell III with wife Elise. In addition, he’s survived by granddaughters Erin Birden with husband Jesse, Jessica Sprayberry and husband Josh, Megan Bolt and Alyssa Nock. His grandsons include Nathan Evans with wife Caitlin, Dave Evans II plus wife Paula, Matthew Baier, Stefan McGovern and his wife Nichole. Also, Carl had six great-grandchildren. Finally, Carl was blessed to have many significant friendships, colleagues, neighbors and associates who mourn his loss. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Doris Brazell Sr. and his youngest brother Robert. If you are inclined to make a donation in Carl’s honor, the family requests consideration of Teche Center for the Arts in Breaux Bridge. It’s a non-profit that was special to Carl for its mission to support Acadiana arts and culture, www.artsatteche.com Carl Brazell personified “a life well-lived.” Although deeply saddened to lose his Earthly presence, we are confident Carl has a familiar call to all of us, Laissez les bons temps rouler! Let the good times roll! To that end, Susan promises that when safe, she will schedule a 2021 Celebration of Carl Brazell’s remarkable life. Stay tuned. https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2SX7tnNw7L9oVRkv8Oc-6T-Q2780B6em4Qfdo-N_joQXxz_RmqHW6sJRU&feature=youtu.be&v=PyMKzkp-kII