[1] His father enkindled Bookspan's interest in classical music by taking him to concerts on the weekends, where he would act as an usher.
During the 1950s, he acted as the executive director of the New England Opera Theater, before working for the Boston Symphony Orchestra as its coordinator of radio, television and recording.
[7][8] A decade later, he served as the new announcer for the VHS and DVD editions of conductor Arturo Toscanini's television concerts.
He was also noted for his ability to provide anecdotes to cover any unanticipated breaks, such as when the New York Philharmonic completed their performance around 18 minutes ahead of their apportioned airtime.
In an earlier incident in 1959, he filled in a ten-minute interruption in Rudolf Serkin's performance after the pianist broke the pedal lyre.
An active researcher, she played a key role in the 1970s as an interviewer of classical singers, instrumentalists and conductors for the William E. Wiener Oral History Project of the American Jewish Committee.