A Friend Like Harry

Harry Nelson was born in Collins, Mississippi in 1950 and was raised by his mother in a small house. They were not rich, but they had each other. He found his calling at an early age when he heard a disc jockey at a local radio station introducing music and he was hooked. It wasn’t until many years later that I met Harry through some mutual friends. I was drawn to him right away because he had an infectious smile and southern drawl that he acquired as a child. Despite his travels around the country, he never lost either of these things.

Let me try to explain to you why everyone needs…a friend like Harry. Harry Nelson worked in radio pretty much his entire adult life. He excelled in huge markets such as San Fransisco, New York, Denver, and Boston, but it was a small station in Maine that made him finally feel at home. He settled there and never left. Married once, but never having children, Harry was a legend in the radio world, but unknown to the rest of the world. He was an unassuming and humble man who would do anything for his friends. Friends that scattered the country and became his family. If you knew Harry, you loved Harry…it was simple as that.

Harry’s health started to deteriorate when he hit his mid 60s, but he never lost his zest for life, or those who he shared it with. I lived pretty close to Harry, so I started going to visit more often and helping out in small ways to make things more comfortable for him. He lived alone with his beloved cats, but his family of friends called him constantly. That mass of friends was there for Harry because he was always there for them.

There was no stress or drama when you were around Harry. His positivity could brighten a room and I never recall him saying a disparaging word about anyone. He greeted everyone with that loud booming, “Hey Buddddd”. We would often go for drives and grab a bite to eat, and Harry was ever so appreciative. Little did he know that it was I who appreciated his stories and friendship. Harry Nelson lived his best life despite that hand that he was dealt at birth. He fought for what he wanted and worked hard to achieve it. He once asked me to grab a folder from an old bureau and I came across dozens of photographs of Harry standing with the likes of Tom Petty, Dwight Yoakam, and other music industry stars. They weren’t framed and hanging from his walls…they were collecting dust in a yellow file folder. That was Harry Nelson, humble, unassuming, and a champions for others.

Harry made some careers take off in the music world, but he never took credit for that. Instead, he gave that credit to the artists. A more selfless and kind man you’d be hard pressed to find. The picture that accompanies this blog is one of my favorites for two reasons…Harry loved to visit my family at the campground we stay at in the summer, and the other person in the picture is my actual best friend of well over 50 years, Jim Fahey. Those friendships were and are so important to me because I am in search of quality, not quantity when it comes to friends.

Harry Nelson left this world almost two years ago. I still miss my friend and there are so many others out there who do the same. He impacted so many lives and asked for nothing in return. He simply wanted you to be nice to him as he was always nice to you! That is why everyone needs…a friend like Harry. I sure hope you have one or find one at some point.