William Abrahams; Editor of Books, Short Stories

William Abrahams, 79, editor of about 350 books, including those of such authors as Lillian Hellman and William Inge. Abrahams also presided over the annual O. Henry short story awards for more than three decades, editing annual anthologies of short stories he thought were the year’s best. Abrahams wrote four successful novels and published several poems before becoming an editor with the Atlantic Monthly Press in 1963. He also edited books for Holt, Reinhart & Winston and Dutton. His stable of loyal authors included Pauline Kael, Thomas Flanagan, John Fowles, Evan Connell and Joyce Carol Oates. With his partner, historian Peter Stansky, Abrahams late in life wrote four nonfiction books, including “London’s Burning: Life, Death and Art in the Second World War,” published in 1994. Saying he could work anywhere he had a telephone, Abrahams moved easily from the book publishing center of New York to Northern California when Stansky won a Stanford teaching post. Abrahams continued working with authors until his death. On Tuesday in Hillsborough, Calif., of congestive heart failure.

Angel South; Novelty Songwriter, Guitarist

Angel South, 55, lead guitarist with the jazz rock band Chase who wrote such novelty songs as “The Job That Ate My Brain.” Born Lucien Gondron in Port Arthur, Texas, South grew up playing in bands with Janis Joplin, Edgar and Johnny Winter and B.J. Thomas. Trumpeter Bill Chase gave Gondron his new name when he recruited him for his band Chase in 1969, commenting: “You’re an angel and you’re from the South, so you’re Angel South.” South left the band for a solo career in 1972, shortly before its leader and five band members died in a plane crash. He had continued to perform in small clubs and casinos in Reno and later at the Milestone Saloon in Placerville, Calif. Among other songs he wrote was “I Got a Receipt for Playing the Blues.” In 1995, he released the blues album “Swamp Doggy Dog” and earlier this year an album titled “Texas Guitar Swinger.” On Thursday in Placerville of prostate cancer.