A familiar voice and face on the New England music scene, Bob “Raccoon” Nelson passed away on or about Friday January 4, 2025. His Facebook page notes that he was 62.
For local musicians, this is Earth shattering new. Nelson would play a plethora of artists, allowing them interview air time and live performance. Put “Bob Nelson WMWM” in a YouTube search for just a taste of his work on behalf of local recording artists.
Acoustic Avemue DJ Ronnie Deschenes wrote a touching first post about his friend Bob’s passing: “Tonight I played 6 hours of music dedicated to the memory of my good friend Bob Nelson. After, I set up automation and sat in the dark. I thought of Bob and the fun we’ve had. I prayed. I cried.
I didn’t want to leave. I felt like if I closed the door and locked up the station, somehow that would make it final.
Bob was part of NOBR since our beginning. He was a very intelligent man, kind, thoughtful, appreciative and most of all humble.
He once told me that he never dated or married and that to him, the love of his life was this radio station. I remembered that as I steeled myself to leave. I shut the lights and closed the door knowing that Bob Nelson is still in there. He was there at the start and will be over our shoulders monitoring the board always.
You will be missed dearly Robert. Your friends loved you and will remember you fondly.
Thank you for all you have taught and shared through the years. (used with permission of DJ Deschenes)
The comments are pouring in on Facebook: Linda Morin, former girlfriend of the late Doug Mascot, who was Nelson’s DJ partner “sorry to hear about Bob passing. He will be with Doug in heaven. He was a wonderful person.” Michael Gray of American Beauties band noted “This is sad news. Bless him and condolences to his friends and family” while Tom Reid posted “Very sorry to hear this. Back in the 1980s, he was a big supporter of a band I was in. We reunited – if you can call it that – on Facebook a while back, but, sadly, never got together in person”
I could speak volumes of positive things about Bob’s support of the scene and his friendship over the past few decades. He was invited to appear with radio notable Donna Halper on this writer’s TV show, Visual Radio January 2025, Halper writing on January 6 “I’m utterly stunned. As I said, I talked to him 2 weeks ago and he insisted he was getting better.” We are all shocked and saddened by the loss of this huge figure in the Boston/New England rock arena. Bob’s contributions were many, and they will live on.
You can hear many Podcasts created by Bob on his RaccoonRollRadio.com or http://raccoonradio.freehostia.com/ Streaming Audio and Podcasts
There will be a tribute to DJ Nelson on North of Boston Radio online, Saturday January 11, 2024 starting at noon.
NorthOfBostonRadio.com