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aaronk
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 12:03pm | IP Logged
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It is with a very heavy heart that I bring the news of fellow board member Jim Abbott’s passing. Jim (jimct) and I connected here on the forum back in 2006 when he first joined, and over the years, he has become one of my best friends.
Jim was more knowledgeable and passionate about music and radio than anyone else I knew, having spent many years on-air at WAVZ and KC101 as Jim McNeil, as well as handling music director duties during his time there. Additionally, Jim was the sports play-by-play announcer at his alma mater’s radio station, WNHU. Locally, however, Jim was best known for his 1960s and 1970s weekly oldies show on WNHU, which he hosted by his real name, Jim Abbott, for 30 years between 1978 and 2007.
Jim loved helping others, and during his time at WNHU he acted as a mentor to students in the broadcasting program. Using his contacts in the industry, he would often find internships and even jobs for UNH students looking to start a career in radio.
Outside of radio, Jim was an avid record and CD collector, and he worked on music projects with several of us here on the forum. If one of us had a question about a song version that appeared on a 45 or promo CD, Jim could almost always assist, and he did without hesitation.
For those of us here who noticed Jim’s absence on the board, he suffered a stroke this past January. Regrettably, Jim was unable to recover and regain his health. Jim passed away peacefully yesterday evening at the age of 59.
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Aaron Kannowski
Uptown Sound
91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop
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crapfromthepast
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 12:18pm | IP Logged
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Aaron - Thanks for letting us know.
Jim was a valuable asset around here - knowledgeable, passionate, and seemingly cut from the same radio-background cloth as many of us here.
If you check the membership on the forum, ranked by overall number of posts, Jim finished at #4. I am merely #9. (Aaron is #1, with a bullet.)
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There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one Crap From The Past.
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Yah Shure
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 12:18pm | IP Logged
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Very sad news. He will truly be missed.
RIP, Jim. You were the undisputed King of the Promos.
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eric_a
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 12:28pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for sharing, Aaron. I'm so sorry to hear the
news. As long as I've been on the board, I've admired
Jim's passion for music. He had such a great memory for
details -- I'll miss reading his stories.
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aaronk
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 12:38pm | IP Logged
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Here's the most recent picture I have, which was taken during one of my visits to see him in West Haven. In recent years, Jim really enjoyed going for walks. Toward the end of 2016, he had done a 5-mile walk more than 450 days in-a-row! Whether it was blazing hot or the ground was covered in knee-deep snow, Jim faithfully went on his daily walk. One of the things he occasionally enjoyed doing at the end of the walk was stopping for ice cream at a local shop down the street from his place. The girl at the counter took this picture of us on my iPhone in September 2015.
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Aaron Kannowski
Uptown Sound
91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop
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Yah Shure
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 1:04pm | IP Logged
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Great picture, Aaron. As a former Baskin-Robbins store manager in my pre-radio days, I'd say Jim had great taste! (The nearest B-R to the Twin Cities these days is in Des Moines, so I'd better start walkin', too.) ;)
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Brian W.
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So sad to hear this. Jim always treated me like gold.
This board will certainly be less without his knowledge.
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Smokin' TomGary
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I first met Jim at 13WAVZ and KC-101 in New Haven, CT where I served as Chief Engineer from Jan 1977 thru Jan 1981. I then worked with Jim at WNHU at the Univ of New Haven where he did the 60/70's show for many years.
I am very sad to learn that Jim has passed. I knew that he had health issues for many years. We traded CD's a few times and I took him to NYC CD shopping one Saturday many years ago.
Jim was very knowledgeable of music as evidenced here and in personal meetings. I wish you Rest in Peace, my friend. It was an honor to know you.
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C J Brown
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 4:24pm | IP Logged
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RIP Jim Abbott - I never knew him but will miss his "Jim CT" posts regarding timing and other issues.
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sriv94
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Damn. That hurts.
Thanks for letting us know.
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Doug
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All of the good signatures have been taken.
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MMathews
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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Jim was a great friend and he will be sorely missed.
I cannot count how many times he helped me out with his
vast musical knowledge, to say nothing of his vast music
collection! His research was second to none, and I'm very
happy our last few releases have his name in the credits.
He always went out of his way to help,
So long, my friend. Be at peace.
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Santi Paradoa
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Jim was nothing short of terrific. He sure knew his stuff. I've learned much from all of the board members especially Jim. I would describe him as feisty as well as knowledgeable (those who have read his posts know exactly what I'm talking about). It was Mr. Abbott who gave me a quick lesson on the difference between styrene and vinyl 45s. God bless him. He will be surely missed by many. Thanks to Aaron for sharing this sad news as well as that great picture. I'm 56 years old now and I must add that to learn he is gone at 59 is hard to accept.
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Santi Paradoa
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Hykker
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 7:05pm | IP Logged
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This is sad news. RIP Jim.
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eriejwg
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 10:20pm | IP Logged
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Wow, this one hurts.
Jim was the first member of the board I connected with
back in 2007 not long after I began posting. He was so
helpful in educating me on single versions, radio
edits etc. In fact, I discovered this board because of
an internet posting, either authored by Jim or someone
else, with detailed differences between radio edits
and 45 versions.
Thanks, Aaron for this picture of you two. Now, we
know the face behind all those detailed postings.
May he rest in peace.
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bitman
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| Posted: 12 June 2017 at 11:54pm | IP Logged
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Very sad news...I don't post here often, but the info is very valuable and Jim's knowledge was mind-boggling.
RIP
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Paul Haney
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Very sad news indeed. I never met Jim in person, but we had many great exchanges over the years, both here on the board and privately thru e-mails. His passion for all things related to radio and record collecting was well-known to all of us here. He and I didn't always see eye-to-eye, but at the end of the day we could usually agree to disagree. We are all fortunate that he so freely shared his vast knowledge with us over the years. May he now rest in peace.
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JL328
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Very sad to hear. Far too young. Deepest condolences.
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995wlol
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| Posted: 13 June 2017 at 7:26am | IP Logged
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I’m very sad to hear the news about Jim. I think the
photo below pretty much sums up the kind of guy he
was. Many years ago, I was trying to track down a
promo 45—it was a real challenge because there were
multiple pressings that shared the same catalog
number, which made it near impossible to identify the
version I was looking for from online sellers. Jim
PM’d me to let me know he had an extra copy that he
would give to me. I tried to pay him for the mint
unplayed copy he sent, but he refused to accept it—for
him it was about helping out the rest of us who were
as passionate as he was. Jim’s note will stay with
this record for as long as I own it.
You will be missed Mr. Abbott.
46e2dc8f1_z_d.jpg">
Edit: Sorry, can't get the photo to load...I'll try to
fix
Edited by 995wlol on 13 June 2017 at 7:41am
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elcoleccionista
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| Posted: 13 June 2017 at 8:15am | IP Logged
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I am very, very saddened to find out about Jim. Never had
the privilege to meet him in person but we did correspond
via email for a good while. He was always kind to me with
any requests and we talked about our personal lives as
well. Rest in Peace, old friend.
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AndrewChouffi
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| Posted: 13 June 2017 at 11:43pm | IP Logged
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This news about Jim's passing does indeed hurt.
I always looked for his perspective on what versions were actually played on radio, and why & when they were played.
Rest in peace, James.
Andy
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Top 40 Music on Compact Disc : Chat Board
Topic: James Abbott (jimct)
