Addendum Letter In Memoriam—To Dr. W. James “Jimmie” Abbington, Organist, Music Director, Administrator, Historian, Mentor, Friend
“I just want you to leave me a footprint in the sands of time.”
~ Professor Arthur R. LaBrew (1930-2015) to Ellis Washington (circa January 2015)
Prologue In Memory of the Inimitable Organist, Dr. James “Jimmie” Abbington
*N.B.: Paraphrasing the words of a pioneering Black Pipe Organist who said these words to Professor LaBrew (circa 1990) as he gave LaBrew his collected papers before he died. This unheralded artist played the grand pipe organs in several New England Cathedrals in the 1920s-1960s[?]) I’m sorry I can’t remember his name presently, perhaps the Pipe Organist pioneer from New York, Clarence E. Whitman? However, I believe Whitman was too young to fit my timeline [b. 1927]. Furthermore, I think the Black organist I’m thinking of was born in the late 19th or early 20th century). See also, fn. 34, of Arthur R. LaBrew, International Encyclopedic Dictionary of Black Classical Music and Musicians (1750 B.C. – 2015) 4 Vols., perhaps naming this unknown artist greatest student, “Organist Extraordinaire: David Hurd.” Here is a sample of the transcendent organ music played by this anonymous Black Organist from circa 1920s –
* Suggested listening music Jimmie played masterfully through the years by J.S. Bach –*Prelude and Fugue in A minor, *Prelude and Fugue in D Dorian, *St. Anne Prelude and Fugue in Eb, *Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, *Chorale Bearbeitung (Choral Reworking) – Trio super: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (Alone to God on high be honour) A-dur BWV 664.
- ·. {Wikipedia quote} “In 1977 he [David Hurd] received first prizes in both Organ Performance and in Organ Improvisation from the International Congress of Organists, being the only person to ever win both prizes in the same year.”
Write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. ~ Revelation 14:13
Addendum Letter to Friends, Family and Colleagues Who Loved Jimmie’s Contributions to the Marketplace of Ideas & in Memory of UChicago Professor of Philosophy Allan Bloom (1930-92)
Dear UMich, UChicago Family & Friends of Jimmie Abbington:
I REMEMBER UChicago Philosophy Professor ALLAN BLOOM (1930-92), author of the New York Times bestseller, THE CLOSING OF THE AMERICAN MIND (1987), a transcendent book that forever transfigured my worldview of Life like a sublime Apotheosis, or in the paradoxical words of President Woodrow Wilson on his White House screening of the first movie created by Hollywood, D.W. Griffith’s BIRTH OF A NATION [1915]
– “It was like writing history with lightning…”
This book by Professor Bloom was a departing gift that my dear friend Jimmie Abbington gave to me when I was accepted at Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (1988-89), where most likely that opus prompted me in Jan. 1989 to take a couple of law classes at the same time when I met a future POTUS – a young Barack Hussein OBAMA who was then a law student at Harvard. (You never know who you might meet in Life’s odyssey and the unexpected impact people [often strangers] will have on your Life).
I mention Professor Allan Bloom in this obituary correspondence because this intellectual TITAN is prominently mentioned in my essay/obituary of the recently departed Great Organist, Choir Director, Author and Historian, Dr. W. James ‘Jimmie’ Abbington (d. 09/27/2025). Jimmie was my colleague, mentor and friend at the University of Michigan (1985-96) where he obtained his M.M. (1992) and DMA (1996). Because of Jimmie’s prompting and intellectual solicitude I have written over a dozen times about Professor Allan Bloom in my books, essays and law review articles and every time I mention this great scholar of Philosophy, Political Theory and History I hear the words of my dearly departed friend, Jimmie Abbington whispering in my ear, pushing my Soul and urging me in the words of Kwame Nkrumah, “Onwards ever, Backwards never!”
*N.B.: See generally, Ellis Washington, 1918-2018: 100 Years of UnNatural Law of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Faulkner Law Review, Vol. 8, No. 1, Fall (2017), 171-226, at 197-99 {section B is on the intellectual legacy of UChicago Professor of Philosophy Allan Bloom [1930-92]}.
*N.B.: Two two books above were cited in regards to what I wrote in my original tribute to Jimmie, In Memoriam…,
Jimmie’s passing reminded me that my love of philosophy, history, critical thinking, historiography and political philosophy contained in a book Jimmie gave me as a parting gift when I got accepted into graduate school at Harvard GSAS in 1988, titled – “The Closing of the American Mind” by that iconic and legendary UChicago Professor Allan Bloom (1930-1992). This book irrevocably changed my life and philosophical worldview forever!
Jimmie Abbington and Ellis Washington – The Hartford Memorial Baptist Church Years (1983-96) & The University of Michigan Years (1985-96)
*
The pictures below represent my earliest times as a graduate student at the University of Michigan (circa 09/1985 with my old friend and student colleague, Dr. Mayme Nwaneri (née Williams), then a master’s student in Epidemiology), to the end of my tenure at University of Michigan there (at least musically speaking) culminating with my Master’s Horn recital (12/06/1986) where shortly after that in Feb. 1987 I left graduate school to accept a position as the Assistant Principal Horn of the Symphony Orchestra of the State of Mexico (Toluca, Mexico). I posted these pictures to demonstrate how Jimmie taught me personally all of us who had the honour of knowing him to always strive assiduously for the Excellent Life!
Jimmie, The Shawshank Redemption and Artists – Marc Chagall & Romere Bearden
*N.B.: I’m sorry I didn’t have any pictures of Jimmie Abbington during this period when we were graduate students at the University of Michigan, but as I stated before, he was like a big, beautiful, multi-colored bird that fluttered in and out of our lives at unexpected times bringing JOY, WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE to all which I allude to by references to the Morgan Freeman “Red” soliloquy on the Tim Robbins character (Andy Dufresne’s) life impact on other prisoners in the iconic movie, The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and in the transcendent paintings of birds by one of my favorite artists, MARC CHAGALL (1887-1985) and the raw, gritty, sublime portrayals of Black Americana by that great Black American Modernist artist, Romere Bearden (1911-88).
*Two artists (of course they are many more) that remind me of Jimmie’s extraordinary personality and iconic legacy the most are—1) The Russian French Jewish modernist, Marc Chagall (1887-1985); and 2) The Black American modernist, Romare Bearden (1911-88), who I was delighted to recently discover was also a musician (songwriter) (See picture #1: Baptism scene). Because both of these artist’s oeuvre reminds me of each other, when I looked up to see if Bearden was influenced by Chagall, Google A.I. stated the following—
While both artists were influenced by modernism, there is no direct evidence to suggest that Romare Bearden was directly influenced by Marc Chagall. Bearden’s work was significantly shaped by sources like Cubism, Dadaist photomontage, African sculpture, and his own experiences with American music, especially blues and jazz. Chagall’s influences, conversely, came from his Russian folk art and Jewish roots, alongside his engagement with the art movements in France and Germany, notes The Art Institute of Chicago.
Epilogue to Dr. Jimmie Abbington. . .
A prodigious worker—During that period at the University of Michigan (1985-96) where Jimmie was working part time on obtaining his Masters and Ph.D. Abbington was also the Organist and Music Director at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church [Detroit, MI](1983-96), under Harvard-trained Theologian and Civil Rights legend, Rev. Dr. Charles Gilchrist Adams (1936-2023), a wonderful and historical church I attended for 25 years (1987-2012), about half the time while Jimmie was the Organist and Music Director there.
Here is my first essay I wrote in Jimmie’s honor titled – In Memoriam—I Remember Dr. W. James ‘Jimmie’ Abbington, Organist, Music Director, Administrator, Historian, Mentor, Friend (11 Nov. 2025), which paying homage to our Elders also mentions the love and solicitude in my Life of Antioch COGIC Pastor Havious Green (1921-2014) (2008 essay) & Mother Julia Mae McCarty Green (1925-2007) (2007 essay). I hope you like it and will share with others who may have known Jimmie and appreciated his musical and intellectual contributions to the marketplace of ideas.
*N.B.: Interview—100 Years of Song: James Abbington, FHS (Nov. 17, 2021)
Peace and VERITAS!
Prof. Ellis Washington, J.D.
B.M., DePauw (History, Education, 1983)
M.M., University of Michigan (Music Performance [Horn], 1986)
v Staff Editor, Michigan Law Review (May-Aug. 1989)
o I may have been the 1st Black person to serve as an Editor on the Michigan Law Review[?]
* See generally, Ellis Washington, Essay Letter to Megan Brown – The First Black Editor-in-Chief of the Michigan Law Review (09/29/2019)
J.D., John Marshall Law School (J.D., 1994)
Critical Thinking Blog: www.EllisWashingtonReport.com
Suggested Readings by Professor Ellis Washington, J.D.
1. Essay & Poems on Chief Judge Richard A. Posner–Part I.
2. Essay & Poem on Chief Judge Richard A. Posner–Part II.
3. Essay & Poem on Chief Judge Richard A. Posner–Part III.
4. Essay & Poem on Chief Judge Richard A. Posner–Part IV.
5. Essay & Poem on Chief Judge Richard A Posner–Part V.
6. Essay & Poem on Chief Judge Richard A. Posner–Part VI.
7. Essay & Poem on Chief Judge Richard A. Posner–Part VII.
8. Essay & Poem on Chief Judge Richard A. Posner–Part VIII.
9. 1918-2018: 100 Years of UnNatural Law of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Faulkner Law Review, Vol. 8, No. 1, Fall (2017), 171-226.
10. The Deconstruction of American Law and the Apotheosis of President Donald J. Trump, IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (Sept. 2023).
11. 8 Open Letters—Reply to President David Meyer on the Apotheosis of President Donald J. Trump (12/03/2023).
12. Book, The Progressive Revolution – Vol. III 2010-11 Writings – History of Liberal Fascism through the Ages (2015). Contains essays on Professor Allan Bloom’s classic opus – The Closing of the American Mind (1987),
an epiphany gift that Jimmie Abbington gave to me upon my acceptance to Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in Aug.1988. (See picture [right] of me preparing for my long solo drive from Detroit, MI to Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) and to my future battles against Liberalism, Progressivism, Cultural Marxism and their future Manchurian Candidate I would meet at Harvard Law School who would later become POTUS (2009-17) – Barack Hussein Obama (circa Aug. 30, 1988).
Category: Commentary
