1. Barry Doyle Harris was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator.
18 Facts About Barry Harris
1. 2.
Barry Harris was born on December 15,1929, in Detroit, Michigan, to Melvin Barry Harris and Bessie as the fourth of their five children.
3.
Barry Harris took piano lessons from his mother at the age of four.
4.
Many Motown pioneers, including Barry Gordy, were friends of Harris in his youth.
5.
Barry Harris, who described Bud Powell's style as the "epitome" of jazz, learned bebop largely by ear, starting with Powell's recording of "Webb City" with Sonny Stitt and Fats Navarro.
6.
Barry Harris made one of his first recordings in Toledo, Ohio, in 1950 and made another in Detroit in 1952 with trombonist Frank Rosolino.
7.
Barry Harris said in a later interview that he recorded a musical for Willie "Face" Smith around this time, but the album was lost.
8.
Barry Harris remained in Detroit through the 1950s and worked with Miles Davis, Sonny Stitt, and Thad Jones, and substituted for Junior Mance in Gene Ammons' band.
9.
Barry Harris left Detroit in 1960 to tour with the Cannonball Adderley quintet.
10.
Barry Harris performed with Cannonball Adderley's quintet and on television with them.
11.
Barry Harris was a sideman on Lee Morgan's famous album The Sidewinder and returned to recording as leader following his move to New York.
12.
Barry Harris substituted for Monk in rehearsals at the New York Jazz Repertory Company in 1974.
13.
Barry Harris held music workshop sessions in New York City for vocalists, students of piano and other instruments.
14.
Barry Harris received an honorary doctorate from Northeastern University and a joint award with Oscar Peterson and Hank Jones from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
15.
Barry Harris appeared in the 1989 documentary film Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser, performing duets with Tommy Flanagan.
16.
Barry Harris taught his last music class less than three weeks before his death.
17.
Barry Harris married Christine Brown in 1953; they remained married until her death in 2017.
18.
Barry Harris suffered a stroke in 1993, but was able to continue his career and play in public after recovering.