LOS ANGELES  – Darryl Morden, a respected music journalist whose 30-year career included writing concert reviews for the Hollywood Reporter for nearly two decades, died of cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Friday. He was 52.

In addition to covering hundreds of concerts for THR, Morden contributed articles or reviews to such publications and websites as Music Connection, Cashbox, Grammy Magazine, AOL, CD Now, Bam, Down Beat and Seventeen. Since 2005, he had been senior editor and senior staff writer for the Buzzine magazine and website. A devoted fan of superheroes and science fiction, he penned articles about comics and graphics, home video, books, novels and, of course, music.

He also was a producer for Movie Tunes from 2005-09 and penned bios, stories and marketing materials for companies including Sony-BMG, Rogers & Cowan, Univision, Premiere Radio Networks, Westwood One, Launch Radio Networks, Curb Records, Examiner.com and CultureBlog.

The Hollywood native began his career in 1981, working as a writer for ABC-Watermark on Casey Kasem's American Top 40, the most successful program in radio history. By 1988, he was associate producer for AT40, then hosted by Shadoe Stevens, and was head writer and associated producer of special programing projects for ABC Radio Networks.

Morden began covering concerts for THR in 1992, reviewing rock, pop, R&B and country acts ranging from Bruce Springsteen and Radiohead to the Blind Boys of Alabama and Chuck E. Weiss to such pop divas as Britney Spears, Beyonce and Lady Gaga. He also covered several Coachella festivals.

In November 2001, he was so moved by U2's performance at Staples Center in Los Angeles -- which included an unforgettable tribute to the victims of the September 11 attacks -- that he wrote an unsolicited pro bono review for The Hollywood Reporter. His last review for the paper was Carrie Underwood at the Hollywood Bowl in October.

Morden is survived by his wife, Barbara, and son Declan. In lieu of flowers, donations of any kind to help offset medical expenses can be sent to: Morden Medical Fund, 4733 Radford Ave. No. 4, Valley Village, CA 91607.