Date Of Birth: June 28, 1950
Date Of Death: January 22, 2008
Russell Carey Abrams, 57, of Indianapolis, passed away peacefully January 22nd, 2008. Born in Cincinnati to Russell and Hazel Abrams, Russ became an accomplished musician in childhood, playing accordion professionally. His teen years led him to his beloved guitar, and he was talented enough to play with a wide variety of musicians – among them, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie recognized Russ as a kindred ’bluesman,’ acknowledging, ’There’s not many of us, is there?’ He advised Russ to ’Play on!’ And play on, he did. Among the songs he played was a love song composed especially for his beloved wife, Kathleen. Their good times outnumbered their years together, but the trip was always an adventure.While Russ’ guitar may stand silent, his music resonates in the hearts of:His beloved wife Kathleen,three daughters, Justine Abrams of Fremont, CA., Sarah Barnes of Indianapolis; and Carrie Marie Abrams of Briceville,TN.two sons Matthew Spencer of Shelbyville, and Oliver Spencer of Seattle, WA; seven sisters and many dear friends and bandmates.A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, January 28th at 7:30pm at Franklin Community Church, 2005 Upper Shelbyville Road in Franklin, IndianaIn lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Community Home Health Services, attn: Hospice House, 9894 E. 121st St., Fishers, IN 46037.
Justine Abrams says
russ was my father and even though i may not have shown it as i should have i loved him and i will miss him dearly
Ivan Gutschke says
Kathy,
My thoughts are with you in your time of loss. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do.
leonard brewington says
Donna Spurlin says
Kathy, I’m so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family.
Teresa Booth says
With Deepest Sympathies
William Williams says
Rusty, (if he knew he was being referred to by his given name, Russell, he wouldn’t be a very happy camper) was a dear friend… nearly fifty years of friendship. The first time I saw Rusty was at a party in someone’s home and he was playing drums. It wasn’t long before we became good friends. We started our first band either of us ever had, though we never played anywhere in those early days. I don’t know if we even had a name. We’d get together in his basement and try to work out songs. This was before I decided singing was my forte. I had a six string Japanese made guitar on which I was attempting to play bass!!! That was back when “made in Japan” was not a label one aspired to own with any product, let alone guitars. Much later in life, I became W.A. Williams, Photographer… it was nothing I had planned. It was a “God Thing”!!! My first subject and eventual client and friend was the late Stevie Ray Vaughan to whom I introduced Rusty around 1988-89. I took a picture of the two of them together backstage after a show at Cincinnati’s Riverbend one summer night. I had Stevie sign and personalize one of my shots of himself for Rusty. There are always legends associated with musician’s and their brushes with fame and the famous and I’ll let those stories remain as they have been passed on over the years. After the tragic death of Stevie, I felt compelled to once again take to the stage and adopted the name; The Reverend Billy Rose! and Rusty and I would share the stage again from time to time. Rusty was a good friend. The last moments we shared together will live on in my memory… we connected one last time and it was real and it was beautiful. I’ll cherish the memories of our times together here on terra firma. I love him and will miss him dearly. He was born a Legend. My heartfelt condolences to Kathy and all of his family, friends and the Brothers with whom he made music. Another dear friend who passed from this earth five years ago, Ronnie Danford, once told me that “we’re closer than Brothers, we’ve made music together.” Remember Always to… Rave On, Rusty is. He knew Jesus.
All the Love…
W.A. Williams/The Reverend Billy Rose!
William Williams says
Rusty, (if he knew he was being referred to by his given name, Russel, he wouldn’t be a very happy camper) was a dear friend… nearly fifty years of friendship. The first time I saw Rusty was at a party in someone’s home and he was playing drums. It wasn’t long before we became good friends. We started our first band either of us ever had, though we never played anywhere in those early days. I don’t know if we even had a name. We’d get together in his basement and try to work out songs. This was before I decided singing was my forte. I had a six string Japanese made guitar on which I was attempting to play bass!!! That was back when “made in Japan” was not a label one aspired to own with any product, let alone guitars. Much later in life, I became W.A. Williams, Photographer… it was nothing I had planned. It was a “God Thing”!!! My first subject and eventual client and friend was the late Stevie Ray Vaughan to whom I introduced Rusty around 1988-89. I took a picture of the two of them together backstage after a show at Cincinnati’s Riverbend one summer night. I had Stevie sign and personalize one of my shots of himself for Rusty. There are always legends associated with musician’s and their brushes with fame and the famous and I’ll let those stories remain as they have been passed on over the years. After the tragic death of Stevie, I felt compelled to once again take to the stage and adopted the name; The Reverend Billy Rose! and Rusty and I would share the stage again from time to time. Rusty was a good friend. The last moments we shared together will live on in my memory… we connected one last time and it was real and it was beautiful. I’ll cherish the memories of our times together here on terra firma. I love him and will miss him dearly. He was born a Legend. My heartfelt condolences to Kathy and all of his family, friends and the Brothers with whom he made music. Another dear friend who passed from this earth five years ago, Ronnie Danford, once told me that “we’re closer than Brothers, we’ve made music together.” Remember Always to… Rave On, Rusty is. He knew Jesus.
All the Love…
W.A. Williams/The Reverend Billy Rose!
JUAN FUENTES says
Condolences to the Abrams and family; Russ you will be missed;I will never forget when I met him in Ohio,working with Russ was a treat,He spoke about music all the time,HE WILL TRULY BE MISSED(MI AMIGO)
Linda Sieber says
Kathy,
Bill and I want you to know our thoughts and prayers are with you. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you.
Bill and Linda
Elaine Lederman says
Dear Kathy,
I was so sorry to hear about Russ. You know my prayers are with you and if there is anything at all that I can do don’t hesitate to ask.
David Swift says
Kathy,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
naomi maggardbrewer says
I’ve listen to your bands and danced till I about dropped. I will miss you alot.You and your guitar will never be forgotten.We all loved you.
Jean Burkhead says
To our brother Rusty,
You are loved and will be missed!
Love,
Jean and Carol
Hubert Kingery says
I only met Russell a few times ,but he came across as a very nice person,I would liked to have gotten to know him better. I will miss him.
Mary Spinelli says
Kathy,
Larry and I are so deeply sorry for your lost. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. I will always have fond memories of Russ and the times we shared. Please let us know if there is anything we can do or if you need someone just to talk with please contact us.
With much sympathy,
Larry and Mary.
Daniel Boone says
Kathy,
Thank you for allowing me the honor to speak at Rusty’s service. You and Rusty have always been good friends of mine and always will be. I know we will miss him but he will always live on in our hearts and in our memories. I know he and I will play music again one day. Thank you for your generous gift when I left, that meant alot to me. I will never forget it. Because of Rusty Abrams I am a better man and a better musician! Stevie Ray Vaughn’s music was something Rusty and I both enjoyed listening to as well as playing. I have listed these lyrics below as a tribute to my friend and brother Rusty Abrams…..
Rusty…Till we meet again..play on brother!
Life Without You
(srv)
Well hello baby..tell me how have you been…
We all have missed you..and the way you grin..
The day is necessary..every now and then…
For souls to move on…givin life back again..ah ha
Fly on Fly on…Fly on my friend
Go on…live again..Love again
Day after day..night after night..
Sittin here singing every minute..as the years go passing by..by,by,by
Long look in the mirror..we’ve come face to face
Wishin all the love we took for granted….love we have today..
Life with out you…all the love you passed my way
The angels have waited for so long..now they have their way..
Take your place…………
My best to you and yours
With all my heart
Dan
Anthony Agliata says
Rusty was a fine guitar player, and a good man. One of my best memories playing with him was with the Late Nighters at Lucille’s, in Latonia, KY. It was a one of those rare nights musicians always hope for… everything clicks and you don’t think, you just play. I will always remember that experience.
Justine Abrams says
well my first message was a little short but thats because i didnt think of anything to say. now that i have thought about everything i do have alot more to say. i never got to REALLY know my dad and i wish i could have but what i do know is that he was a very good musician. that was his truest passion in life and im sure hes in heaven playin with jesus clapton and stevie in the best blues band ever i hope he was happy with his life and i am sorry for everyones loss. please dont be sorry for me, i didnt lose much…just the chance to know my dad.
Barb says
“It’s in him … it’s got to come out.” Those lines are from a song made famous by blues legend, John Lee Hooker.
I think John Lee didn’t just mean music — he meant the divine spark that creates music.
That spark was surely in Russ, and he devoted his life to helping it come out, taking those of us who were lucky enough to know him and to hear him play along for an exhilarating ride.
I believe that somewhere, somehow, Russ is still helping that spark come out … just “farther on up the road.”
Farewell, my friend.
Russ Murphy says
Kathy,
Thank you for a truly loving tribute to Rusty. I miss him dearly. We have lost a GREAT Blues Musician, but, at least I have recordings of him to listen to. I will never forget him…
Sarah Barnes says
Goodbye
I always took for granted,
what I thought I’d never lose.
Because I never thought it would
happen,
until I heard the dreaded news.
They say you were chosen for His
band,
His preciously hand picked blues
guitarist.
“God really needed him,
That’s why he couldn’t stay.”
Saying goodbye is never easy,
It’s the hardest thing to do.
But what hurts me even more
Is not having the chance to say it
to you.
I will forever miss and love you.
Sarah Barnes says
Goodbye
I always took for granted,
what I thought I’d never lose.
Because I never thought it would
happen,
until I heard the dreaded news.
They say you were chosen for His
band,
His preciously hand picked blues
guitarist.
“God really needed him,
That’s why he couldn’t stay.”
Saying goodbye is never easy,
It’s the hardest thing to do.
But what hurts me even more
Is not having the chance to say it
to you.
I will foever miss and love you.
Kathleen says
My Dearest Russell,
It has been a month now since we began this new phase of our love and faith.-á My mind’s eye roams the planet some days, looking for ways to bridge the gap between us.-á If I stood between your favorite mountain, moon and deep blue sea, would I catch a glimpse of you?-á Is it there that I could show you and God my sorrow, without compromise?
It’s best to consciously rein in that sorrow for now.-á It’s best to accept that you are attending to one part of Us and I another. It’s best to believe that the mountain is Strength, the sea is the Source and the moon is the light of Love.
In the meantime, your music sustains me.
Love,
Kathleen-á
Oliver Spencer says
Russ Abrams was a good guy. He was without pretense. What you saw was was you got. He was a talented guitarist.
His creativity extended beyond music. He constructed complex dioramas of wooden figurines out of materials he carved.
He was a true blues man, and a good friend. He had a huge heart. We will miss you, Russ.
Josh Kingery says
I’m not very good with words but I will do my best. I don’t need to tell anyone Russell was a good man. Everyone already knows. The few years I knew him I feel that I grew closer to him than my own father. I wish I had a chance to get closer to him as I am very shy and didn’t talk very much around him. I just want to tell him now that I love him and not to worry about your granddaughther Layla. I will do anything and everything possible for her. I will never forget you Russ.
Geoff Smith says
Just learned of Rusty’s passing.I was a drummer friend of his from the 70’s and we tried to put a group together for several months around 1980 that never got off the ground.But I always admired his God-given talent and enjoyed his wit and friendship.He was a down to earth person with a lot of heart.We lost touch(I moved to Dayton)but I always knew he would move people with his voice and guitar.RIP Rusty…see you in Glory!Geoff Smith
Kathleen Abrams says
Dear Russell,
Today is the first anniversary of the day our journey took separate paths. It is still so difficult to meet the challenges of family and work without seeing you at the end of the day. On the tougher days, I remember your magnificent grin in the moments before death. All that had troubled you, ol’ Bluesman, was over. That look of happiness was a revelation then and remains a true comfort now.
Love always,
K
Carrie Marie Abrams says
I am Rusty’s first and long lost daughter, I was born in nineteen seventy seven. And the last time my dad saw me was in nineteen seventy eight. We both spent this lifetime searching for each other but something or someone always kept us from connecting. I found him in October of last year. I always thought that if we ever found each other he would wrap me tightly in his arms. I never thought I would find him too late. How ever we both received the gift of being saved from God so we can be together in the next life. But for now I have the gift of learning about him. There is one person I have to thank for that Kathy. She is the most loving person I have ever met. I feel blessed to have her in my life as my father did. Through her I have learned that his love for me is as deep as my love for him. And I’m not only named after him, but I am gentle like him and I look exactly like him. So I feel like he lives on through me, that is truly a wonderful feeling. Her and Sarah came to visit me and gave me a few of his items. pictures, and two Cd’s so I can hear, see, and smell my dad anytime I want. And I proudly wear his cross around my neck. They have helped me through one of the most saddest times in my life. I told them I am like a sponge, I want to absorb just as much of my dad as I can. So if anyone wants to share anything with me please please contact me or Kathy. It would mean more to me that you would ever know. Although we didn’t get to be together in this life, I will someday walk hand in hand with my Daddy in heaven.
To my Daddy your little Carrie loves you, and can’t wait to finally be with you forever. Love always Carrie.
Kathleen says
My Dearest Russell,
Today marks the beginning of my fourth year without your physical presence, but you are as strong a spiritual companion as you were an earthly one. Though I still do not always understand the will of God, you help me recognize his Grace more and more.
Of course I miss our 4 hours morning coffees on the back porch of that pathetic apartment. I miss our day long excursions for barbeque and that just right piece of mid-century modern furniture. I miss watching you play Hendrix “in the zone”.
But I know you’re around and I thank you for helping me through some pretty narrow passages with Sarah, Oliver and Matt…and I thank you for leading me to your beloved Carrie and her family… and I thank you for patiently waiting…
Love always,
Tink
Justine Abrams-Jones says
Dad,
It has been 7 years since your passing and very often over the years I have thought of you. Your picture is sitting amongst my most precious pictures, though you know this as I feel your presence around me often. I know you are there looking after me and I want you to know that I love you and I miss you. I have missed you for much longer than 7 years and I kick myself for not letting you in when I had the chance. I am married for the second time now but this time I think is the last. He makes me so happy daddy I think you would really like him. We are having a baby and I am due Feb. 19th. His name will be Loki Lyrik Jones. Please watch over him as you have watched over me. I hope you are resting in paradise.