A night with Bob Abrahamian’s Sitting in the Park on WHPK brings a tour through rare soul gems and poignant tributes. Opening with the Montclairs’ debut “Hey You, Don’t Fight It,” Abrahamian’s broadcast delves deep into overlooked tracks and unsung heroes. A particular highlight is a tribute to Detroit legend Steve Mancha, whose recent passing marked a somber moment for soul enthusiasts. Bob weaves in soulful cuts, while sharing important community safety tips and radio recommendations, nurturing a community of listeners united by their love for deep soul.
Montclairs - Hey you! Don't fight it - Arch
Differences - Five Minutes - Mon'ca
Silhouettes - Not me baby - Goodway
Victors - Not only a boy knows - Phillips
Betty Turner - Tell yourself a lie - Crescent
Dee-lites - Give it up - Britton
Sugarpie Desanto - Ask me - Checker
Sugar Lumps - I've got a brand on my baby - Virgil
Leola Jiles - Keep it coming - WB
Steve Mancha - Don't make me a story teller - Groovesville
Solar Circuit - I can't let you go - Blue Rock
EJ and the Echoes - I had a hard time - Diamond Jim
Soul Brothers Six - I don't want to cry - Fine
Shades of Love - A woman will do wrong - Delon
New Holidays - Maybe so maybe no - Soul Hawk
Andre and Zero Plus - Sparkle in a woman's eye - Eyeball
Kool and Together - His beginning is my end - Magic
Herb Lane and the Rhythm Makers - You're my last girl - Vigor
Fabulous Waller Family - I love you so - Dynamic Artists
Louise Freeman - How could you run away - Shout!
Flight - Let me get next to you - Magic
Moses - Sweetest Love - Pure Silk
From a modest studio in Chicago, Bob Abrahamian transformed the airwaves every Sunday night on WHPK’s Sitting in the Park. More than just a DJ, Abrahamian was a historian of deep soul, curating hours of programming that unearthed rare tracks, and paying homage to artists who shaped the genre. His October 25th, 2009 show exemplifies his mission: exploring soulful sounds from both celebrated and obscure artists while fostering a sense of community.
Starting with the Montclairs’ first release, “Hey You! Don’t Fight It,” Abrahamian immediately anchored listeners to a bygone era when smooth falsettos and heartfelt lyrics reigned supreme. The Montclairs, hailing from East St. Louis, hold a special place in soul history for their expressive harmonies and early contributions to the genre. The first track captures the raw emotion and vocal power that would define their career, setting the tone for the evening.
As the night progresses, Abrahamian transitions seamlessly between lesser-known groups like the Victors and legends like the Silhouettes, illustrating his deep knowledge of soul and his dedication to highlighting every layer of its history. His mention of the Victors as potentially linked to Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes reveals his knack for uncovering the connections and roots of groups whose stories are often forgotten.
Yet, the heart of this episode is Abrahamian’s tribute to Steve Mancha, a key figure in the Detroit soul scene. Mancha’s death marked a significant loss, as he was both a gifted songwriter and a dynamic performer. His work with The Holidays and 100 Proof Aged in Soul showcased his ability to blend emotional vulnerability with commanding vocal delivery. Abrahamian’s choice to play Mancha’s hit “Don’t Make Me a Storyteller” speaks volumes to his respect for the artist’s enduring influence. This track, with its storytelling prowess and lush arrangements, epitomizes the heart of Detroit soul—a scene that profoundly shaped the evolution of the genre.
Beyond honoring Steve Mancha, Abrahamian’s show offers listeners a journey through soul’s vast geography, from the doo-wop influences of groups like The Silhouettes to the bluesy edge of New Orleans’ Sugar Lumps. Each song selection reflects Abrahamian’s methodical curation, connecting dots between cities, eras, and styles. His transitions from artists like EJ and the Echoes to the D-Lites capture how regional sounds converged into a larger narrative of 1960s and 70s soul.
Abrahamian’s role on Sitting in the Park was more than spinning records; it was about fostering a connection with his audience. He addressed them directly, encouraging calls and responding to requests while weaving in community messages about safety and learning opportunities. These interludes, like the reminder to install smoke alarms, illustrate his vision of radio as a platform not only for musical education but for building a sense of collective care among listeners.
Listeners who tuned in on this particular Sunday were also treated to some nuggets about Chicago’s own music heritage. Groups like Andre & Zero Plus and their track “Sparkle in a Woman’s Eye” highlight the hidden gems of Chicago’s own soul scene. These songs, deeply rooted in the city’s musical legacy, represent the interconnectedness of local soul cultures that Abrahamian worked tirelessly to document and share.
In highlighting tracks from Andre & Zero Plus to the New Holidays, Abrahamian subtly narrates a history of how soul evolved, with regional styles and collective voices influencing the national landscape. When he features tracks like Blaine and the Rhythm Makers’ “You’re My Last Girl” and mentions their transformation into the later disco-oriented group GQ, he adds layers to the narrative, showing how soul constantly reinvented itself through the 1970s.
Bob Abrahamian 00:00
Okay, you are tuned to WHPK, 88.5 FM in Chicago. You're now listening to Sitting in the Park. My name is Bob. I hope you're having a great New Year so far. I will be playing soul music for you until 9 PM. If you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424. Gonna start up the show with the first record ever released by the Montclairs. This track is called Hey You, Don’t Fight It.
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Bob Abrahamian 11:12
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK, 88.5 FM in Chicago. You’re listening to Sitting in the Park. My name is Bob, and this show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM. We started off this show in St. Louis with the very first record released by the Montclairs called Hey You, Don’t Fight It. After that, from DC, we had the Differences with Five Minutes. Then, a soul record by a doo-wop group—the Silhouettes—with Not Me Baby. The last cut was from a group called the Victors, supposedly the same group as Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. The track was called Not Only a Girl. The show is just getting started. If you want to call me up, the number is 773-702-8424. Shout out to Dre in Chatham and Tony in California—thanks for calling up. If anyone else wants to call, again, the number is 773-702-8424. This next record is by a singer from LA named Betty Turner. This track is called Tell Yourself a Lie.
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Bob Abrahamian 25:05
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK, 88.5 FM in Chicago. You’re listening to Sitting in the Park. My name is Bob, and this show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM. We started off that set with a singer from LA named Betty Turner with Tell Yourself a Lie. Then, we had a group called the D-Lites with Give It Up. Following that, we played Sugar Pie DeSanto with Ask Me. Next up, a group from New Orleans called the Sugar Lumps with I’ve Got a Brand on My Baby. And the last cut was by a singer named Leola Giles, who was the lead singer of the Apollos. They had a record called All Sold Out, which got played in Chicago. The track was called Keep It Coming. Okay, we’ve got an hour left of the show. Thanks to everybody who called up so far. If you want to make a request, ask a question, or share a comment, the number is 773-702-8424.
Sad news this week: Steve Mancha died a couple of days ago. He was a legendary Detroit songwriter and singer. He sang in the group The Holidays and 100 Proof Aged in Soul. He also wrote for many artists, including the Dramatics. Later, I’ll be playing a Holidays record, but right now, here’s Steve Mancha’s biggest hit, Don’t Make Me a Storyteller.
[music playing]
Bob Abrahamian 41:02
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK, 88.5 FM in Chicago. My name is Bob, and you’re listening to Sitting in the Park, which happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM. We started the last set with Steve Mancha’s hit Don’t Make Me a Storyteller. After that, we had an obscure group called Solar Circuit with I Can’t Let You Go from Detroit. Then, EJ and the Echoes with I Had a Hard Time from Upstate New York. Next, we had Soul Brother Six with their very first record, I Don’t Want to Cry. The last cut was from an obscure female group called the Shades of Love from New York City. They performed a nice version of Women Will Do Wrong.
Now, I have to give you some information. If a fire breaks out in your home while you’re asleep, how will you know? Smoke and heat build quickly, making every second count. A smoke alarm can alert you to danger and make the difference between life and death. Install and maintain a smoke alarm on every level of your home, and replace the battery every year. Also, children are naturally curious, and they want to learn, so follow their lead. If they like to help out in the kitchen, let them stir the spaghetti sauce or count the eggs. While doing laundry, fold in a lesson about colors and shapes. Simple learning games can be fun for both of you. Everyday moments are learning moments. It’s easy, and when you talk with your child, you build vocabulary. Learning starts long before school does. For more tips, go to bornlearning.org.
Another show you might like on this station is called The Dusty Party. It airs every Thursday night from 9 to midnight. On that show, there’s a rotating lineup of DJs that play soul, funk, blues, and jazz from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Another show you might enjoy is From the Subway to the Street Corner. That show airs directly before mine on Sunday nights from 6 to 7:30 PM. It’s hosted by Doc, and he plays doo-wop from the 50s to the early 60s. Okay, if anyone wants to call me up, the number is 773-702-8424. This next record is another track with Steve Mancha, who passed away recently. It’s by the New Holidays and is called Maybe So, Maybe No.
[music playing]
Bob Abrahamian 58:50
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK, 88.5 FM in Chicago. You’re listening to Sitting in the Park. This is a weekly soul show that airs every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM. We started off the last set with the New Holidays featuring Steve Mancha with Maybe So, Maybe No. After that, we played an awesome track from Chicago by an obscure group called Andre & Zero Plus with Sparkle in a Woman’s Eye. Then, a group from Houston called Cool and Together with His Beginning Is My End. The last cut was by a group from New York called Blaine and the Rhythm Makers with You’re My Last Girl. This is the same group that later became GQ.
Okay, we have about 25 minutes of the show left. Sorry to the person who just called up—call me back right after I get off the mic. If the phone’s busy, just keep trying. The number here is 773-702-8424. This next record is by the fabulous Waller Family. It’s called I Love You So.
[music playing]
Bob Abrahamian 1:13:40
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK, 88.5 FM in Chicago. You’re listening to Sitting in the Park. My name is Bob. The show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM. Also, if you like the show, you might like my website, which is www.sittinginthepark.com. On that site, I have audio of all the interviews I’ve done, plus all of my shows from the past four years. I will have tonight’s show online by tomorrow at the latest.
In that last set, we started off with the Fabulous Waller Family’s I Love You So. Then, we had a singer named Louis Freeman with How Could You Run Away. After that, a group called Flight with Let Me Get Next to You. The last cut was by a singer named Moses, and I think it was from New York. The track was called Sweetest Love. Okay, we have 10 minutes left of the show. Unfortunately, I did not bring Ronaldo Domino today, but I’ll bring his records next time I’m on. However, I will be playing the Love Lights’ request and a Sugar Lumps record that someone wanted to hear again. If anyone else wants to call me up in the last few minutes, the number is 773-702-8424. This is the Love Lights with My Conscience.
[music playing]
