Harry Harrison, one of the legendary “Good Guys” of New York AM rock and roll radio, then later a member of talk radio’s so-called “All Americans,” has died. His death was announced on WCBS/101.1 FM, where Harrison ended his career, with a posting on its website which read: “Today we say so long to former American radio personality WCBS-FM and ‘Jack’ FM DJ Harry Harrison. He has passed away at 89 years old after battling health issues.”
Over a 40-year span in New York, Harrison was once as familiar as the first cup of coffee or the drive to work. His “Good Guy” moniker — eventually shared with WMCA personalities Jack Spector, B. Mitchel Reed, Dan Daniel, Joe O’Brien and Dean Anthony — had indeed been earned.
Harrison’s style was genial, noncombative and approachable, in sharp contrast to those who would come after, notably Don Imus and Howard Stern. How sharp? Best to recall Harrison’s famed sign-offs for that answer: “Stay well, stay happy, stay right here” or “Harry Harrison wishing you all the very best, because that’s exactly what you deserve.” And of course, “Every day should be unwrapped like a precious gift.”
Or this: In 1965, he recorded a spoken-record hit called “May You Always,” with lines like “may you find a little island of time … to visit that lonely friend on the other side of town,” or “may that long and lonely night be brightened by the telephone call you’ve been waiting for.” Unashamedly sentimental, “May You Always” became both holiday staple and Harrison’s “Good Guy” validation. In tribute, the station posted a recording of “May You Always” on its website.
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani issued a proclamation on April 25, 1997, as “Harry Harrison Day,” in honor of the city’s second “mayor.”
“Sad to hear about the great Harry Harrison — one of the radio voices of my youth on 77 WABC and then WCBS-FM,” lamented NY1 news reporter Roger Clark on Twitter. “He will always be the morning mayor!”
After a 44-year career in New York radio, Harrison left WCBS in 2003, saying, “I am not retiring.”
The following year, he returned to the airwaves as the host of a Saturday morning show. But the stint was short-lived when the station axed the oldies format in 2005.
The station brought back songs of the 1950s and ’60s songs in 2007, but has since phased out the genre.
The Chicago-born Harrison was born on Sept. 20, 1930, and began his radio career at WCFL in 1953. He later hosted a morning show at WPEO in Peoria prior to moving to New York City.
(Excerpts) Read more in Newsday & NY Daily News