R.I.P. Harry Abraham

[Guest Bill Barton]

Thanks to Tom Marcello for posting this link on Facebook. Back in the late 1960s-1970s I listened religiously (yes, I think that's the right word) to "The Best of All Possible Worlds" on clear-channel WHAM-AM from Rochester. Harry Abraham was one of my role-models (perhaps the major one) in how I approach doing radio. R.I.P. to a master broadcaster.

Harry Abraham remembrance...

[marcello]

RIP Harry Abraham.

Here with Freddie Hubbard in Rochester, N.Y.

June, 1976.

[Michael Weiss]

When I was in high school in the early 70s, Harry Abraham's show would carry loud and clear all the way in Dallas in the middle of the night. making it very hard to go to sleep.

[Guest Bill Barton]

online Guest Book

[Hot Ptah]

For those of us who never heard him, what was his approach to jazz radio, what made him special?

[Chuck Nessa]

For many it was he was available late at night and played "real" jazz. There was a time when fans of a certain age spun the dial looking for something good.

[marcello]

For those of us who never heard him, what was his approach to jazz radio, what made him special?

Harry only played new releases for the most part. In those days there weren't as many as today.

He opened up the show with a prerecorded introduction (with music by Yusef Lateef), and during the time he talked, there was a solo piano piece that Les McCan recorded in the studio, that played in the background.

He was knowledgeable and opinionated, but always laid back. He told all about the release as far as sidemen, label and recording date, so he taught many listeners about who was on the scene. That's something that's rare today.

Here are some links:

Harry at WHAM

The Best of all Possible Worlds introduction

Harry Abraham on Jazz Radio Programing

[Peter Friedman]

I knew Harry Abraham slightly when he and I both lived in Rochester,NY. Hung out with him a couple of times.

Unfortunately, after Harry left Rochester he got into serious trouble - involved in bank robbery - and I believe spent time in prison.

Harry and Will Moyle were the two major jazz voices on the radio in Rochester back then.

[Prof. Jay Arnold]

Harry and I were best friends after he came to Philly and we met. We worked together for a while and later we hung out and/or partied together (especially his New Years Eve parties that were held a little early so we could all get home safe [He videotaped each year's midnight festivities and then would play them back the next year so we could celebrate early]. He even baby-sat my young son once or twice.  He & I were executors of each other's estates (until the last minute when a horrible "black widow" caught his attention and she conned him into naming her instead.) I had , with great sorrow, the honor of speaking in praise of him at his funeral. Knowing that Harry had been apprehended by the FBI, I frequently teased him (he had a wonderful sense of humor) by wearing an FBI baseball cap. At his final services, I began with "Harry, this ones for you" and I whipped out an FBI cap and donned it. He did much good for many people and was a great joy to be with. If it had not been for his early life gambling, he might not have been the only friend I ever had that served time in Attica! He is still missed!! [Prof. Jay Arnold (ret) (11/7/25])

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Welcome Jay. Great story about Harry. On the Radio Discussions forum, Mark Giardina posted this funny story:

A funny story about Harry I wanted to pass along to everyone.

Harry had a bad habit of coming to work late.

After being at the station from 4pm and finishing up hosting a talk show (with no producer or call-screener) after 1 am, I was anxious to get home.

At first Harry would show up 15 minutes late, then it started to be a half-hour. Finally I told Harry the next time he wasn't in the studio after the news at 1:05 am I would stop playing his opening theme and a several jazz selections and play whatever I wanted. Apparently he thought I was kidding; I wasn't.

So the next night when 1:05 am came around and the news was over I put a Hank Williams Senior album on the turntable (this is decades before computers) and let it play. The next night it was a John Wayne record.

Needless to say Harry was fuming mad and swearing like hell as I heard him come running down the hallway from the back door at 350 East Avenue into the studio. ( I was in the newsroom at the time).

The next day I'm told to report to the GM's office and was asked what's going on? "Harry is very upset with you".

After I explained the situation to the GM I just came out and said if Harry continues to be late for work, I will personally buy a Mrs. Miller's greatest hits album and play the damn thing in its entirety every night he's late.

Word must have got back to Harry because he was never late again. ;D