A legend has been lost. WRTI's beloved and long-time jazz host Harrison Ridley, Jr. passed away on Thursday, February 19th after a brief illness. His station colleagues mourn his death and celebrate his life. Will Mr. Ridley be immensely missed? His signature expression says it all: "Yes Indeedy!"
"Harrison was the quintessential source of knowledge about jazz?and he was one fantastic cat...he had that big smile. He was a bear of a man, a very kindly and a very gentle soul. He was so quiet, but he had so much in him. He kept pouring it out?just like a great jazz musician. He never repeated himself. He played it differently every time." -- Bob Perkins
WRTI's Harrison Ridley, Jr. will be missed
Harrison Ridley's life-long dedication to what he called 'The Positive Music" made him an icon in the jazz world. He taught music history at Temple University for more than a quarter of a century. And his regular Sunday night show on WRTI was a must-listen for thousands of dedicated fans for more than 30 years. Mr. Ridley served as a consultant for the Library of Congress and taught the Villanova University Honors Program course, African-American Music. In bestowing him with an honorary doctorate in music last year, an event that his wife Janet says was his proudest moment, Villanova University described Harrison Ridley as "a walking encyclopedia of jazz." - a sentiment echoed by his long-time colleague and friend WRTI Jazz Host Bob Perkins. "Yeah, he was a walking compendium or whatever you want to call it - a book of knowledge - one fantastic cat. I'll tell ya, he was a great source of inspiration to me. He had that big smile. He was a bear of a man - a very kindly and a very gentle soul. He was so quiet, but he had so much in him. He kept pouring it out?just like a great jazz musician. He never repeated himself. He played it differently every time."
Harrison Ridley Jr. was 70 years old. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
WRTI's Jazz Director Maureen Malloy shares her sentiments about Harrison Ridley, Jr.
"I miss Harrison already. He was such a kind and happy man, always willing to share his wisdom and love of the music.? He never hesitated to show off his collection of autographed first edition books and, of course, the wide array of vinyl he toted around on a daily basis. I am glad that I was able to learn from this wonderful historian, DJ and teacher. Harrison Ridley Jr.? is one of the reasons I fell in love with jazz. I am proud that I will always be able to call him my friend."?
Some of Harrison's Favorite Songs:
- Miles Davis - "Jitterbug Waltz, Doxy, Oleo"
- Red Garland & John Coltrane - "Billie's Bounce"
- Duke Ellington - "Anything"
- Sir Roland Hannah - "Swing Me No Waltzes"
- Coleman Hawkins - "Body & Soul"
- Stephane Grapelli - "Parisian Thoroughfare"
- Dizzy Gillespie - "Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac"
- And of course: Sidney Bechet - "Blue Horizon"? (Harrison's theme song)
Mr. Ridley's Obituary
Harrison Ridley, Jr., Jazz Educator, Historian, and Broadcaster, Dies at 70
Harrison Alexander Ridley, Jr., a lifelong devotee to what he called "The Positive Music," was an icon in the jazz world. His exuberance was shared with legions of radio listeners who, for over 32 years, tuned to WRTI-FM on Sunday nights when he hosted The Historical Approach to the Positive Music. Mr. Ridley died on February 19th after a brief illness. He was 70 years old and lived in West Philadelphia.
Fans from all over the world discovered Mr. Ridley on the dial, and recently found his show online at wrti.org. They enjoyed his encyclopedic knowledge presented in a friendly and relaxed style characterized by his signature phrase, "Yes Indeedy!" A tireless advocate for jazz history and education, his enthusiasm and knowledge were welcomed in the classroom, the community, and everywhere else he travelled. Mr. Ridley served as a consultant for the Library of Congress, and was recently presented with an honorary doctorate of music by Villanova University where he taught an Honors Course in African-American Music.? During his career he was the recipient of over 80 awards and citations.
"On behalf of the WRTI community, both listeners and staff, it is with great sadness that we reflect on the significant loss of Harrison Ridley, Jr. to the jazz community," says WRTI's General Manager David. S. Conant. "The honors and the respect Harrison garnered in his lifetime were many and well deserved. But what I will remember most, along with his trademark 'Yes Indeedy!' is the broad and authentic smile with which he would greet me, along with the occasional bear hug. Knowledgeable, and sincere in his love of jazz, he was above all a gentleman and a truly gentle man."
Mr. Ridley grew up in West Philadelphia, the oldest of 10 children. His father, Harrison Ridley, Sr., loved music and brought home records for his children to enjoy; Jazz, R&B, and Gospel. Though his six sisters and three brothers were content to listen to the music, Ridley remembers that it wasn't enough for him. He had a passion for history, and he wanted to know the story behind each musician and his music. That curiosity took him to the library, where he began amassing notebooks of information.
He also had a passion for collecting. Originally he collected sports cards, but soon he began collecting music books and record albums. (His mother Katherine graciously put up with the clutter, as would his wife Janet years later.) Mr. Ridley also played the vibes in a neighborhood band and was a hoopster in the Philadelphia Basketball League, where he played for 22 years.
His early schooling was at Blankenburg Elementary School, and Shoemaker Junior High. After graduation from West Philly High School, Mr. Ridley was drafted into the Army and received training as a teletypist for the Signal Corps. And there he began sharing his love of jazz and his knowledge of its history with his Army buddies. "Being in the service was a wonderful two-year experience," he recalled. "I got technical training, played in the camp's basketball league, and taught jazz appreciation classes."
Back in civilian life, he took a job on the custodial staff of the Philadelphia Board of Education, working there for 37 years (30 of them without a single absence). And he continued collecting records and books and doing his research, which incorporated African-American history as well. It was the late '60s when he began lecturing on the history of black music at Philadelphia high schools and community centers. An auxiliary course developed as a result. "You can't understand the history of jazz without understanding African and African-American history and culture," he explained.
With his reputation as an anchor growing, he made several guest appearances on local radio and TV shows such as Malcolm Poindexter's Black Editions. It was in the early '70s that he became a familiar face at WRTI. He volunteered to help the student hosts put their shows together. Then in 1976, the station manager offered him his own show, the Sunday evening slot between 8 and midnight. Mr. Ridley recalled, "I didn't accept immediately. I had to think about it. It was a big commitment." It was, indeed, an enormous responsibility to do a quality four-hour show each week.
But as with everything he did, he took this commitment seriously, only missing three broadcasts during his 32-year tenure as host. This astounding accomplishment was done in the face of maintaining a full-time job, enjoying family life with a wife and daughter, and teaching workshops and classes at the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the Clef Club, Temple University Center City, the Villanova University Honors Program, and the African-American Studies Department at Temple University.
In all, Mr. Ridley lectured at more than 30 colleges and universities along the East Coast, and was a member of the Duke Ellington Society and the John Coltrane Society.? He won over 80 awards including the honorary doctorate from Villanova, an Award of Appreciation from the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, an Outstanding Services Award honoring 35 years of service to the community presented by PASCEP Temple University, and other honors from the University of Pennsylvania, Peco Energy Company, and the Parkway Program of the Philadelphia School District.
Fellow WRTI Jazz Host Bob Perkins says, "Harrison was the quintessential source of knowledge about jazz. If anyone had a question about a jazz subject, he was the final arbiter - the Supreme Court Judge of Jazz." Yes Indeedy!
Preceding Harrison in death are his mother Katherine Holloway Ridley, father Harrison A. Ridley Sr., and siblings Carl and Carolyn Ridley.
He is survived by a large family including his wife Janet Collins Ridley; daughter Jade Wideman-Ridley; step-son Laurence E. White, Jr.; siblings Eleanor Anderson, Shirley Braxton, Estella Banks, Delores Brown, William James Ridley, Harold Sherman Ridley Rita Ann Ridley; aunts and uncles Sherman and Janet Holloway, Earline Humphrey, Annabelle Ridley, and Kathleen "Kitty" Holloway; and extended family Flora Ralls, Sherrice and Jack Ferguson, Karen and Will Meredith, Rudolph and Gail Braxton, Marc Braxton, Franklin Brown, Curtis Brown, Terry Banks, Kendall and Valerie Banks, Jack Ferguson Jr., Javar Ferguson, Jack Fuller, Sherrie Anderson, Michelle Anderson, Gabrielle Braxton, Rudy Braxton III, Tiffany Phillips Banks; and a host of friends and relatives.
A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Mr. Ridley will be held on Saturday, February 28th, 2009 at 10:00 am at The Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2110 Chestnut Street in Center City, Philadelphia. The church is located in between 21st and 22nd streets. February 28th is also "Harrison Ridley Jr. Day" as proclaimed by the City of Philadelphia in 2001. Validated Parking will be available for $6 at EZ Park Parking Lot on 21st Street between Market & Chestnut streets.
Flowers for the service can be sent to the church's business office at 2111 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.