Roger Abramson
Roger Abramson was a jazz musician and attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. After his marriage, he continued his interest in music, however, to prperly support his growing family he became the co-founder of FCB<Federated, a financial management company. The company's growth included 4 offices with over 75 employees. In the turbulent years of the late fifties and early sixties, Roger Abramson became active in various social causes of civil rights and anti-war organizations. This prompted him to produce many concerts and special events with the proceeds going to various non profit organizations, including The Student Non-Violent Co-ordinating Committee, The NAACP, Committee for Freeedom and Justice, etc. In 1960 Roger Abramson joinged George Wein in producing the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival. He then became a full-time concert and event prodeucer and the Impressarrio in the midwestm producing nationally recognized classical concert series including,; The Cincinnati Concert Series, The DAyton Performng Arts Series,and the Children's International Concert and Dance Series. In the early 1960s Roger Abramson presented contemporary concerts under his own name and under Squack Productions. This led to his association with Belkin Productions. Belkin Productions became one of the largest concert producing organizations in the country. Mr. Abramson continued his career as Producer and owner of A Friend Productions andbeing promary owner and creator of the legendary Performance Centersm which was described in Rolling STone as the one of the outstanding performance spaces in the nation. Roger Abramson produced concert series at the Music Inn, Lenox MA, and theatres and clubs throughout the northeast, midwest and the south. producer, arts and entertainment administrator and artists' manager. His past work has featured theatre and concert presentations, venues owned and managed, and special events. He was the Producer/Owner of the Performance Center in Cambridge Ma and at the Music Inn, Twilight Concerts on the Lawn in Lenox Ma. Roger Abramson was General Manager of the Savoy theatre in New York City and Vice President and Executive Producer at Belkin Productions. His work has been featured at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
Management career
In 1999 and in 2008, a portion of his work was featured in an exhibit on Ohio music at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. (September 2002 and April 2008). Roger Abramson was National representative of the Amereican Musical Theatre Club (1965–67)). The National Shows which the American Musical Theatre Club produced were "Funny Girl", "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever", "Where's Charley", and "Desert Song".
Roger Abramson was Executive Producer and CEO of Atlantic Presentations, A Friend Productions, The Cincinnati Concert Series, the Dayton Performing Arts Series, The Children's International Dance Festival, College Concert Associates and the Music Inn, Twilight Concerts on the Lawn.
As well as concert promotions, he has managed such acts as The James Gang (1968–1971), Pure Prairie League (1972–1974), Sir Douglas Quintet and The Staples Singers (1971), Eli Radish (1970–1980), Starr Smith (1971 to present), Rainbow Canyon (1971–1973) and Ras Karbi (1981–1983). As a Concert Producer and Presenter, Mr. ABramson has produced, presented and promted concderts with INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN ARTISTS AND ATTRACTIONS, including; The Anew York City Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera, The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Rollng Stones, The Doors, Jimi Hendryx, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Jay Leno, Bob Hope, Crospby, Stills, Nash and Young, Bob Marley, The Allman Brpothers, The Vienna Choir Boys, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, Aretha Franklin, Pete Seeger, Mahalia Jackson, Celia Cruz and many more Roger Abramson was Exec. Vice President and Producer of Special Events for Carole Power Gordon Associates in New York City. In the mid-80's Roger Abramson was became Vice President of Jim Sant'Andrea. He also served at Executive Producer for Stage One Entertainment.
Roger Abramson started the Bayfront Park Crafts, Collectibles and Farmers Market In March, 1993.
Arts development consultancy career
In addition to his work on the boards of the Arts Councils of Miami Beach (1999–2006), Cincinnati and the Ohio Arts Council (to which he was a founding member), he served as a consultant to the Virgin Islands Arts Council (appointed by Vice President Humphrey), the Appalachian Arts and Craft Council, and the Young Friends of The Arts.
Roger Abramson was Chairman of special Events for the first ARt Basel Weekend, which was originally scheduled in December 2001. After 9/11, Mayor Dermer of Miami Beach appointed Roger Abramson as Chairman of Culture and Special Events for the Mayors Task force on Tourism. Roger Abramson was appointed to the Miami Beach Convention Center Advisory Board in December 2009 and presently serves on that board.
Civil and political involvement
Roger Abramson was an early activist in the American Civil Rights MovementTemplate:Cincinnati Enquirer, 9/17/63;Cincinnati Post & Times Star 5/1/68; Cincinnati Friends of S.N.N.C, 5/3/64; Personal Letter, Cong. John Conyers 10/27/65; Personal Letter Robert F. kennedy 10/6/66; Personal Letter Stephen Young 1230/63)=April 2008 and the Anti-Vietnam War movement. He was chairman of the Ohio Friends of SNCC, Life Membership Chairman of the NAACP, Ward Chairman, Precinct Captain and a member of the Steering and Executive Committee of the Ohio and Hamilton County Democratic Party. (A tribute to LBJ, 10/27/64) He was a Campaign Manager and part of the Executive Committees for various political campaigns, including Senator William F. Bowen, Governor Jack Gilligan and Special Events for Robert Kennedy in Ohio. In 2006 Roger Abramson was a candidate for Miami Beach City Commission.
In 2009, Roger Abramson received a Proclamation honoring his Birthday on January 13 as Roger Abramson Day in the City of Miami Beach. On January 18, 2010, Roger Abramson and his wife Diane were honored with a Lamplighters Award by the Chabad of Miami beach for their years of community service.
In 2001 Abramson created a Chanukah Menorah (2001–Present) made out of 10,000 to 15,000 sea shells that he had personally collected. The following year, he created the world's largest Spinning Dreidel (2003–Present) weighing over 2000 pounds and standing 14 feet tall, constructed from approximately 20,000 sea shells. Every year, these two sculptures are placed on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach during the holiday season and are viewed and photographed by thousands of residents and visitors. Roger Abramson was inducted into the Civil Rights Hall of Fame on October 13, 2011 at the Ohio State Capitol Building in Columbus, Ohio. (Miami Herald 10/25/2011, Cincinnati Herald, 10/27/2011, Newburyport Daily News 8/1/2011) Mr. Abramson was the 21st person inducted alongside many well known leaders including Pulitizer Winning Author, Tony Morrison, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Council and Senator William Bowen.
Abramson attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, and Bowling Green University.
A Sampling of References==References== {the Seattle Times 12/192012 Miami Heald 10/25/2011 Miami Today 04/29/2010 Cincinnati Enquirer 10/27/1964 Cincinnati Herald 09/23/2011 Cincinnati Post Times Star 05/01/1968 Inaugural Invitation 01/20/1965 Village Voice 01/10/1963 Cincinnati Post 01/20/1966 Cincinnati Post 04/30/1965 Dayton Daily News 06/11/1968 City of Cincinnati Proclamation 10/02/1966 Cincinnate Enquirer 02/21/1966 Letter of Ref. US Congress,John Conyers 10/27/1965 Letter of Ref.Mayor Newburyport, Ma 05/24/1984 letter of Ref. Se, Robert Kennedy 10/06/1966 Cleveland Press 10/04/1969 The Scene 07/15/1971 Great Swam Erie 05/28/1971 Telegram 05/01/1972 The Observer 10/01/1971 Proclamation City of Miami Beach 01/13/2009 Miami Today 05/11/2011 The Scene 05/22/1972 Cleveland Press 05/22/1972 The Lynn Evening Item 05/10/1978 Newburyport daily News 02/07/1975 Letter of Ref. John Denver 05/01/1984 Letter of Ref Oak Ridge Boys 11/10/1983 Letter of Ref. Sen. Wm Bowen 08/05/1976 Miami Herald 01/11/2011 Amusement Business 09/22/1973 letter of Ref. Anthony Shriver 04/06/1973 Bay State Banner 07/04/1980 New York Times 04/16/1980 Miami Herald 10/28/1993 Miami Herald 01/12/1993 Letter of Ref. Stewart Udall 10/03/1994 Proclamation, State of Ohio 10/13/2011 Painesville news Herald 01/27/2012