Craig Harris

Craig Harris is a professional trombonist, band leader, percussionist, composer, author, and photographer. The day of his birth is 10 September 1953. He completed his graduation Music major at the State University of New York Click to look into! >> Read More... , Old Westbury. Makanda Ken McIntyre (the University’s director) influenced him into music. His first performance was with his teacher, Pat Patrick. Then, he moved to New York. It was in 1976 when he started his musical journey with jazz artist Sun Ra in his album Live in Montreux and Cosmos as a sideman.

In 1983, his first album, Aboriginal Affairs, was released, which became widely popular. In late 1983, he released another album - Black Bone, with bassist Fred Hopkins and saxophonist George Adams. In addition to the above albums, his discography includes Shelter(1985), Blackout in the Square, Root of Soul (1988), Cold Sweat Plays J. B. (1989), 4 Play (1990), and F-Stops (1994). Harris collaborated extensively with David Murray, a saxophonist and music composer. Their works include Murray’s Steps (1983), in which Harris played trombone. Their music catalog includes Life at Sweet Basi Volume 1 and 2 (1985), Hope Scope (1991), Octet Plays Trane (2000), and many more.

Besides being a musician, he is also an author. His recently published book Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-time and Americana Music (2018) is a comprehensive compilation of the American music industry. Based on this theme, he authored other books such as The Band: Pioneers of Americana Music (2014) and Heartbeat, Warble and the Electric Powwow: American Indian Music (2016). He also contributes articles and reviews to newspapers and various media outlets.

Popularly called a Jazz Hero, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Awards nominated Harris for an Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album. His award laureates include the Guggenheim Fellowship, the Mary Flager Cary Charitable Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Award, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Arts International, and New York State Council of the Arts. He is also the co-composer of Oscar-winning film -Judas and the Black Messiah. He hosted a show called The Craig Show on Bluegrass Country. Recently, his new album, Managing the Mask, swept the charts.