tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post8201548297629342575..comments2024-03-08T09:49:26.566-05:00Comments on Reading between the Grooves: Harry Abraham: The Best of All Possible WorldsJim Owstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13489905161227202406noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-59312799900651761752023-11-29T18:28:57.277-05:002023-11-29T18:28:57.277-05:00Yours is one of the finest, most complete Harry bi...Yours is one of the finest, most complete Harry bios and remembrances I've seen. Like a few of the previous commenters, I met Harry and later wrote reviews and articles for DIFFERENT DRUMMER. And even got paid! When I was attending SUNY Geneseo and listening to the Best Of, he dissed Santana one nite. So I, young idealistic student, wrote him a letter defending Santana. He wrote back and eventually we'd talk on the phone a bit. I remember winning 5 Black Jazz LPs from him at one point. I lived near Harry in Rochester and would occasionally see him in the 'hood, and often when he worked as a clerk at Worldwide News in downtown Rochester. I did a morning show on WCMF, Rochester's album rock station, from 76-80 as well as a one hour Sun nite jazz show, which I still continue to do until this day on Jazz 90.1 in Rochester. I wish I woulda gotten ahold of Harry when he was in Philly and written down his entire array of triumphs and sagas. As noted above, you've done an excellent summary. Final note: I too remember when all of a sudden one nite jazz was gone and country was in. It was one of my college friends, also from SUNY Geneseo, playing that all-nite country. While happy for him to get the gig, I was sadder to see Harry gone. Chuck Ihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197975230128508713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-69426004640108779722023-08-04T12:42:09.773-04:002023-08-04T12:42:09.773-04:00I was suffering from Herpes for good three years w...I was suffering from Herpes for good three years with no solution, the diseases almost took my life and because I was unable to work and I was also loosing lots of money for medication, but one faithful day when I went online, I met lots of testimonies about this great man so I decided to give it a try and to God be the glory he did it. If you need his help or you also want to get cured just the way I got mine,He also have herbs medicine to cure the following diseases;Contact. Robinsonbuckler11 ((@)) gmail. com .......................................❤️❤️Shannon Macklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07823939088866689045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-66401222492998459222021-12-17T14:42:22.898-05:002021-12-17T14:42:22.898-05:00I listened to Harry Abraham in Grand Rapids, MI in...I listened to Harry Abraham in Grand Rapids, MI in 72 through 74. My friend, John Key, and I would ride around GR late at night. I first heard Carmen McRae on his show, "New York State of Mind". Detroit had jazz FM station you could get in a tall dorm at MSU, Hubbard Hall. That was about as far from Detroit you could her jazz, except Rochester. That's what John and I called it, "man get Rochester on the radio" Great time, great memories. Nardwillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07329549317786242278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-27916860882308331112021-08-16T11:20:36.805-04:002021-08-16T11:20:36.805-04:00Awe man .... I always wondered what happened to Ha...Awe man .... I always wondered what happened to Harry. He probably kept us alive on the late night road between gigs. I remember WHAM had a strong signal that we could always get anywhere on the East coast. He is missed "Madly".Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14039317848554356364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-64102936340008800482019-08-18T14:09:09.626-04:002019-08-18T14:09:09.626-04:00It's a hot day in Virginia - too hot to be out...It's a hot day in Virginia - too hot to be outside. So I am indoors contemplating old friends and activities, when I thought of Harry Abraham, and decided to Google him (something I couldn't have done in 1972). I was a new college graduate dating a jazz trombonist in Western New York when I discovered Harry's show. I would fall asleep every night listening, and sometimes fight to stay awake when he was playing a particularly appealing set. He truly shaped my taste in music. I was happy to see this tribute. Thoughts of his program will elicit nothing but good memories for me!Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00424366621464424506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-16517432873192687202019-01-15T05:03:46.639-05:002019-01-15T05:03:46.639-05:00Thanks for a very thoughtful and well-written stor...Thanks for a very thoughtful and well-written story about Harry. I was just listening to some jazz from the 70s, during which time I also lived for several years in Rochester. Harry had popped into my mind since I also listened to his show and knew him casually through some mutual friends. I can still remember discussing new records with him, as he wore his bright-colored dashikis. I went with him to see Dizzy Gillespie at some lounge near the airport in Rochester and Dizzy came over during a break to sit with us and chat. That was a big thrill for me since I had been a long-time fan. Reading your article brought back a lot of good memories...so thanks for remembering Harry!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12514701089849498913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-58144772924297513072018-09-30T10:06:11.414-04:002018-09-30T10:06:11.414-04:00The Best of All Possible Worlds was key to my surv...The Best of All Possible Worlds was key to my surviving adolescence in small town Indiana. The mere notion of an alternative existence with jazz soundtrack was vital when confronted daily with the concept that what I saw before me was a permanent condition. It wasn’t.<br /><br />Rip Harry & thank you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14170239350293010539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-87556985689988310312018-03-30T22:45:51.863-04:002018-03-30T22:45:51.863-04:00I enjoyed the opportunities each time Harry was on...I enjoyed the opportunities each time Harry was on the air.While attending Kent State University in the late 60's and early 70's. My college roommate was from Rochester and he always had Harry tuned in. Like many comments posted Harry was a wealth of information to jazz from all directions. Interest a few years ago I was in a music (instrumental) having my Sax maintenance and I mentioned Harry's named and his program was totally surprised the store manager knew of him very well. Now i had not heard of any where abouts of Harry in over 45 or so years but to be able to engaged in memories provided by Harry could not been more delightful. Never knew the story of the bank heist however it did not deminsh any appreciation for what presentation he made to enjoying the world of jazz.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12998453932420030634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-85278039648004315352018-03-19T18:48:05.519-04:002018-03-19T18:48:05.519-04:00Glad to see these comments on Harry. He was a budd...Glad to see these comments on Harry. He was a buddy. Surely appreciated and loved; elated to see his memory is still out there after all these years. I started out listening to Harry shortly before attending the University of Cincinnati (UC) back in 1972-73. Actually, in the Ohio/Kentucky area we had Jazz radio all day. Early evening I would listen to another great, Oscar Treadwell (Bird wrote the tune “An Oscar for Treadwell” for him) on UC radio and at midnight Harry, and “The Best of All Possible Worlds”… It was simply a number of years of pure joy… <br /><br />I became a buyer of all kinds of Jazz during the time. Somehow, I ended up writing record reviews for Harry’s “Different Drummer Magazine”. Harry paid nicely for the time. In the mid-seventies, living in Richmond, VA, I received a blessed surprise. Lee Rust from Rust Communications, the radio conglomerate that Harry worked for invited me to do his Jazz Show on WRXL-FM radio. Lee knew Harry very well and picked up a great bit about Jazz radio from him. Note, the AM affiliate, WRNL in Richmond eventually went Country like WHAM-AM around the same time. Well…since then, I have continued following my love…presenting Jazz on radio at various stations and now online. Of course, all due in great part to Harry Abraham and “The Best of All Possible Worlds”…Harry Lives!!!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00589578464370472312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-56787621753371001272017-12-22T22:33:24.069-05:002017-12-22T22:33:24.069-05:00Great story. Thanks for sharingGreat story. Thanks for sharingAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15893600775186607003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-66393770172858397952017-12-22T22:28:30.852-05:002017-12-22T22:28:30.852-05:00You were very lucky to have known Harry. I wish I ...You were very lucky to have known Harry. I wish I could have had the opportunity to meet and thank him for all he did to broaden my horizons.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15893600775186607003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-7629789208441435122015-11-03T11:00:44.819-05:002015-11-03T11:00:44.819-05:00I wrote three pieces for his Different Drummer mag...I wrote three pieces for his Different Drummer magazine in 1973 and 1974. And from my hometown of Chicago, I could get a clear signal and listen to his show on WHAM. Will always remember Harry.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12836478323140065722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-1028796672206035932015-01-14T10:13:48.640-05:002015-01-14T10:13:48.640-05:00Thanks for your personal comments Jim. You could ...Thanks for your personal comments Jim. You could listen to distant AM signals at night due to the cooling of the ionosphere without direct sunlight. As it cooled, it became more dense allowing AM signals to bounce off of it. Jim Owstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13489905161227202406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-9027514201556000912015-01-06T17:52:16.569-05:002015-01-06T17:52:16.569-05:00Laying on my bed as a kid in South Bend, Indiana, ...Laying on my bed as a kid in South Bend, Indiana, trying not to sleep, I would put my little 9 transistor radio under the pillow and listen to 'The Best of All Possible Worlds' with Harry Abraham. I don't know why I was able to tune into a NY station from Indiana but I'm forever grateful that I was able to since it led me to the best of all possible music. Unforgettable - Thanks HarryAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13436990137834625882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-67269992815181825562014-05-16T10:54:12.151-04:002014-05-16T10:54:12.151-04:00During the early '70s while Harry was doing BO...During the early '70s while Harry was doing BOAPW on WHAM, I was working at a competing station in the Rochester market. When I finished my gig at 1am I would often wander down the street to spend an hour or two with my friend, Harry. RIP, my brotherAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16446530116741889737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-17796044932209096402014-02-15T06:56:07.212-05:002014-02-15T06:56:07.212-05:00Just another promo copy that arrived at the statio...Just another promo copy that arrived at the station. All he did was read liner notes and make like he knew the artists personally. What a phony he was. Total fake.<br />He was so stupid he couldn't even get away with robbing a banK. He got on the NY State Thruway with the money in the front seat. At least he could have taken a State road instead of the Thruway. What a complete Dunce. I bet the "boys at Attica" had a complete field day with him..or should I say "ON HIM"!!DEEPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09205521900922644604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-21385384936698837562014-02-15T03:06:33.000-05:002014-02-15T03:06:33.000-05:00As I am watching a TV bio of Gil Scott Heron I am ...As I am watching a TV bio of Gil Scott Heron I am thinking of WHAM radio at night and Abraham playing his tracks. Amirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10636062801337850683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-18969890903397388652014-02-07T06:12:07.174-05:002014-02-07T06:12:07.174-05:00The Mug was one dimensional. He never played Pops,...The Mug was one dimensional. He never played Pops, Bunk, Teagarden, Tatum, Waller....on the promo copies that came in to the station. Pretty useless Dildo. He's in a better place now. Maybe he and Maynard Ferguson can duke it out. Harry was a sissy who pontificated on a subject about which he virtually knew NOTHING.DEEPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09205521900922644604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-91964179832554523822014-01-14T20:48:59.236-05:002014-01-14T20:48:59.236-05:00Glad you liked it Derek. That would have been gre...Glad you liked it Derek. That would have been great to have had him back on the air. Wish I could have gotten to know him personally. Jim Owstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13489905161227202406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-78574057205280728782013-11-04T17:09:54.460-05:002013-11-04T17:09:54.460-05:00Thank you for writing such a great piece on one of...Thank you for writing such a great piece on one of the giants of Jazz radio. We had Harry on a number of times on our station WGMC JAZZ 90.1 and almost had him back on the air for a weekly show before his final illness took him. It was going to be called "The Sins of Old Age" <br />Serenity,<br />Derrick Lucas<br />WGMC JAZZ 90.1 <br />. Derrick@jazz901.orghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043704823619121528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-74427333463473490102012-11-21T10:23:23.636-05:002012-11-21T10:23:23.636-05:00When Harry was working at WHAM, I was a few feet a...When Harry was working at WHAM, I was a few feet away on WHFM-99. The station was semi-automated (I had to plug in some back sells, weather, etc), so Harry and I would share a Chess board while he was playing album sides. He was a very kind and funny guy. I know he came across as the mellow jazz announcer (which he was). But he also had a great sense of humor and was a good person. Hopefully, he'll be remembered for his great jazz knowledge and not one unfortunate incident that happened. I believe Harry can rest in peace. He did more good than bad.Jimethekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06044665692437609637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-9212852960838365562012-02-10T20:30:54.698-05:002012-02-10T20:30:54.698-05:00In 1970, I was stationed in Aberdeen Proving Groun...In 1970, I was stationed in Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, after a tour in Vietnam... My radio station choices, sadly, were severely limited, both in content and duration... But every so often when either the moon, stars, or what have you, aligned themselves just right, I could prop my radio atop several folded blankets stacked carefully on the edge of my footlocker, and just make out the faint sounds of a show called The Best of All Possible Worlds... And this voice, this very distinctive voice, would educate, inspire and entertain, in between some of the most diverse and unique sounds, I'd ever heard... Because of the reception, it took some time before I knew it belonged to Harry Abraham, from Rochester, NY... I live in Phila, Pa, where the likes of Butterball, Jimmy Bishop and Georgie Woods, are legend... But all of them together then, nor any I've heard since, hold a candle to Sir Harry... He never knew me, or I him, but because of those few precious late night moments, I came to think of him as more than just a DJ, I thought of him as my friend... I will miss my friend...CLIFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02819815417238289451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-90185886196854221472012-01-03T22:25:42.651-05:002012-01-03T22:25:42.651-05:00WA1UFO & Stierman1 thanks for your comments on...WA1UFO & Stierman1 thanks for your comments on one of the best and original jazz radio announcers.Jim Owstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13489905161227202406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-41561363781957964722012-01-02T15:20:30.705-05:002012-01-02T15:20:30.705-05:00I grew up in the Hudson Valley and Harry was part ...I grew up in the Hudson Valley and Harry was part of my early Jazz education in 1976-77along with Uncle Ed Beach on WRVR in NYC. Like the writer of this blog I used to listen to the show late at night while driving home from work in my VW Bug and also rigged an external AM antenna on my stereo so I could receive the show in Suffern, NY at night on my receiver. <br />I have reflected on and spoken kindly about his shows throughout the years. RIP Harry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167972917262697078.post-91173205053675713712011-12-28T20:50:39.807-05:002011-12-28T20:50:39.807-05:00Harry was such a great DJ and I loved his choice o...Harry was such a great DJ and I loved his choice of music. I first heard him in 1971 or so, and living in NH, the signals from WHAM were decent most every night.The only station on AM that is sometimes tolerable is Zoomer Radio up in Toronto on 740. May Harry be in a better place now.WA1UFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14710344941273536223noreply@blogger.com