When was Jon Pareles born and where did he grow up?
Jon Pareles was born in 1953 within the quiet borders of Connecticut. He grew up playing piano and jazz flute before attending Yale University.
Questions about Jon Pareles
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What degrees did Jon Pareles earn from Yale University?
Jon Pareles graduated with a degree in music in 1974 from Yale University. During his college years, he also played the Harkness Tower carillon and DJed for the campus radio station.
How long did Jon Pareles work as chief popular music critic at The New York Times?
Jon Pareles held the title of chief popular music critic within the arts section of The New York Times from 1988 until 2025. His tenure lasted nearly four decades before he stepped down from the position.
Which magazines did Jon Pareles edit during the 1970s and 1980s?
Jon Pareles served as an associate editor of Crawdaddy! magazine in the 1970s and became an associate editor at Rolling Stone during the 1980s. He also took on the role of music editor at The Village Voice while contributing to The New York Times starting in 1982.
Who is Jon Pareles married to and what does she do professionally?
In 1994, Jon Pareles married Mary Anne Cartelli who worked as a lecturer in Chinese at Hunter College. Their marriage established a private life separate from his public journalism career.