Remembering Harry Nelson
• UPDATED: We were deeply saddened over the weekend to learn of the passing of a true broadcast legend and a friend and mentor to so many of our peers — Harry “Bud” Nelson passed away after battling various health issues for the past few years. Nelson, who lived in Saco, Maine, had turned 71 years old in January.
Nelson’s lengthy on-air and programming career took him from WXXX/Hattiesburg, MS and WRBC/Jackson, MS to major market success at KFRC/San Francisco, WRKO, WROR, WODS and WZOU/Boston, the late WAPP/New York, KTLK/Denver, WJBQ & WPOR/Portland, ME, to name a few. In recent years Nelson had been doing record promotion and artist management.
Dave “The Duke” Sholin worked with Nelson at KFRC, where he recalled Nelson’s signature way of delivering the calls, “K-F-R (two-second pause) C.” Sholin said of his longtime friend, “It’s impossible to comprehend that he’s gone but there are so many amazing and special memories of our many years together. Harry was genuine in every sense of the word and genuine in every conversation, relationship and his true love of people in his life. That love is being seen and felt by all who were lucky enough to be part of his life. He loved music, getting behind the mic connecting with listeners in his own truly unique style, Southern fried chicken, a good beer and his favorite team, the New England Patriots. I will miss him each and every day and carry his memory in my heart always. Rest In peace, my dear dear Bud!”
“Broadway” Bill Lee (left) of WCBS-FM/New York and Harry first bonded in 1982 when they roomed together on remote at the California State Fair, where they christened the KFRC mobile studio, “The Sturgeon.” They also lived together in Fargo, ND back in the day when they both worked at KKIB (Superstation Double K FM). “The thing about Harry was, he’s universally loved because he treated everyone like his Bud,” Lee said. “A group of many of us who’ve worked together still refer to each other as ‘Bud,’ all due to Harry. And what a jock! Not unlike Bobby Ocean, he could leave you scratching your head in wonder on a ten-second break. Most of all, Harry is responsible for mentoring and developing countless jocks and programmers. What can I say? I’m devastated. Such a loss! I’m only the jock I am today, in large part, thanks to Harry Nelson.”
Promo veteran Howie Rosen also shared his thoughts, telling RAMP, “Harry represented the very best of the music business. He was a consummate professional. He had an unassuming way about him even though he had achieved a high level of success. I’ve known Harry since 1980 and have had the pleasure of working with him on a daily basis for the past six years. Not only was he a colleague but he was a true friend and will be greatly missed.” (Pictured, Harry & Harry… Nelson & Chapin)
Tim Moore, VP of Programming for iHeartMedia-New Hampshire, shared his own personal memory of Nelson, as he told RAMP, “When I relaunched WJBQ/Portland in the late ’90s (bringing back the heritage call letters) — a station that Harry had programmed years before, one of the first calls I got was from Harry (who I didn’t know personally — yet), to congratulate me and offer any help/insight that he could we’ve been friends since. Being with him on the golf course — or at a bar — was always a stream of non-stop stories and laughs. He was truly one of a kind — a great programmer and a better person and friend.”
To get some further sense of how just beloved Harry Nelson was, we invite you to spend some time scrolling through Harry’s Facebook timeline and the beautiful and heartfelt tribute written by longtime friend and colleague, Gerry Cagle.
• Services for Harry will be held on Monday June 14 at 11am at Cote Funeral Home in Saco, ME, followed by a Mass at Most Holy Trinity Church and burial at Laurel Cemetery in Saco.
