Hayes School of Music

Biography/Resume:

Dr. Abrams born in Bronx, NY, has worked with creative artists and entities in the entertainment, music, high fashion and publishing industries for many years, including Ralph Lauren/Polo; Gianni Versace; Emilio and Gloria Estefan (for 12 years); Jon Secada; Miami City Ballet; Glen Kolotkin (Producer/Engineer: Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Miles Davis, Rolling Stones, et al); Matchbox 20, Rob Thomas (mediator); Sony Music Entertainment (mediator); Sony Music Publishing/ATV, Inc. (mediator); Universal Music & Video Distribution Corp. (mediator); Atlantic Recording Corp. (mediator); TV star Cristina Saralegui; members of the Bob Marley family; Irene Cara; Jerry Heller (Ruthless Records, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Easy E); salseros Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz; Ronnie Gilbert (the Weavers); Raul di Blasio; Larry Harlow & Latin Legends; Enrique Iglesias (mediator); Jerry Greenberg; Jordan Knight (New Kids On The Block) (mediator); Led Zeppelin (mediator); Major League Baseball player/manager Warren Cromartie; composer/conductor Alfred Reed; Drummer/producer Adam Deitch (Average White Band, John Scofield, Lettuce); Discos Fuentes /Miami Records (mediator).

Ensembles/Responsibilities:

Dr. Abrams is an adjunct faculty member of Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, where he teaches Copyright Law, Advanced Music Industry Practices and Artist Management classes (Fall semester). In addition
Dr. Abrams is an adjunct faculty member of Florida Atlantic University, where he teaches Advanced Legal Issues For The Musician and a Business School graduate level course in Artist Management (Spring semester).

Performances:

Dr. Abrams has served as a frequent lecturer for the Florida Bar (Continuing Legal Education), and has presented numerous lectures to law students and undergraduates at the University of Miami, Florida State University and the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill).

Dr. Abrams has lectured at the American Bar Association Forum on Mass Communications and is the author of a work entitled "Has the Digital Revolution Killed the Music Business? Problems and Possible Solutions" published in April, 2004 and a paper entitled "Happy Days Are Here Again: How High Tech Can be Used to Grow Classical Music Audiences," published in January, 2007 (presented to the Conductors Guild at its annual conference in Toronto). Dr. Abrams has also presented lectures on issues concerning the effect of media consolidation on the music, film and journalism industries.

Dr. Abrams has taught mediation skills to lawyers and others and mediates disputes and cases in the intellectual property and entertainment industries. Dr. Abrams has been called upon to testify as an expert witness in federal copyright and record industry cases on issues of liability, damages and standard industry practices.

Education:

Attended Music & Art High School (Manhattan, NYC) and Manhattan School of Music (trumpet and music theory); Studied trumpet with renowned teacher Carmine Caruso (NYC); Attended University of Miami (Coral Gables, Florida) on music scholarship. Dr. Abrams received his B.A. degree in Philosophy in 1964 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1967 from the University Of Miami School Of Law.

Professional Affiliations & Honors:

Member of Board of Directors of the Conductors Guild; Member of the Appalachian Summer Festival Advisory Board; Member of the Chamber Orchestra of New York Advisory Board; Member, Repositioning Committee, Hayes Center for the Performing Arts; and other entertainment industry entities, artists, producers, independent record labels, songwriters, managers, publishers, radio and record company executives, high tech entertainment companies, photographers and authors.

Dr. Abrams served as an elected member of the prestigious American Law Institute (ALI) and served as a member of the Executive Council of the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section of the Florida Bar. He has been chosen by his peers for listing in the publication "Leading Lawyers of America".