Abraham ‘Abe’ Riley grew up in West Baltimore and graduated from Douglass High School. A multi-instrumentalist, playing bass guitar, keyboards, drums, he formed his first be-bop jazz group in 1948. The group featured up and coming vocal star / pianist Ethel Ennis, then 15 years old. They performed at jazz clubs and private parties. Riley went on to perform with Five Guys & A Doll, Emeralds, Jimmy Smith & the Rockets of Rhythm. Riley passed away on February 5, 1997
