Harry Abraham Passes

[Ed Trefzger]

The former host of WHAM's "The Best of All Possible Worlds" from 1969-1978, Harry Abraham passed away last week of cancer at the age of 64.

He had reconnected with Rochester as an occasional guest by phone from Philadelphia on WGMC music director Derrick Lucas' Sunday night program.

Jazz radio hosts and musicians from around the country have been sharing memories of Harry on the jazz programmers' mailing list I moderate; his reach was far and wide.

 

[Mark Giardina]

OMG! I wasn't aware Harry was even sick.

Harry was the one who got me hooked on buy meerschaum pipes instead of the regular wood ones that I used to smoke at WHAM, when it was legal to smoke in office buildings back in the 1970s.

Harry's show came on right after I finished the "Opinion Program" at 1am.

"The Best of All Possible Worlds" was a unique program and Harry was a unique host.

My condolences go out to Harry's family.

It seems every year there are fewer of us "old timers" from WHAM left.

 

[Desert Pete]

Unique is the perfect word to describe both Harry and "The Best of All Possible Worlds". But then, WHAM in those days was a unique station.

 

[JimMcGrath]

He and Bill Ardis before him let me hear music that I still listen to & appreciate today. They got me hooked on overnight radio as the "coolest job there could be". I still have a letter from Harry saying that gawkers/guests/me weren't allowed to come to the studios because of company policy. Probably because he wouldn't be there either come to find out.

One thing that drove home the reach of WHAM was I was driving in Chicago one time, heard John Coltrane and thought finally I found a station like WHAM here in Chicago only to discover at the break it was WHAM & Harry.

RIP

 

[Barefootom]

He and Bill Ardis before him let me hear music that I still listen to & appreciate today. They got me hooked on overnight radio as the "coolest job there could be".

I couldn't agree more. I, too, used to listen to the 50,000 watt gentle giant while cruisin' in my hometown of Chicago. I later made it to Rochester to replace Ardis at WCMF. Got to know Harry a bit. He originally got the job not so much for his knowledge of jazz (which was extensive) but because had a First Class FCC license, required to operate their transmitter.

These days, with relaxed rules, it's common for stations to run unattended. Back then, it was illegal. Which is why I still remember the night he recorded the 12-1am hour of his show, then played the tape back at 3am, drove over to WBFB to play chess with Simon Pontin while WHAM stood locked and empty!

RIP.

 

[Mark Giardina]

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