Walt Harper
Encyclopedia
Walt Harper was an American
jazz pianist and influential nightclub owner.
Harper was well known in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. His international reputation and musical ties to some of the greatest names in the jazz world attracted many of the stars to Pittsburgh to perform at nightclubs that he owned and jazz festivals that he produced.
as did two of his best friends - musical giants in the jazz world bassist Ray Brown
and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine
.
Harper's interest in jazz music was already cemented by the time he reached Schenley High School and he was a part of the burgeoning jazz scene of 1940's - 1950's Pittsburgh that produced some of the world's greatest jazz innovators. Harper played valve trombone
in the all-city band, but soon after switched to piano. He also was a member of the Swinging Five, a jazz
group he founded with bassist Ray Brown. As teenagers, Harper and Brown would often venture across town to jazz musician Erroll Garner
's house to watch him play piano
. After graduating from high school in 1944, Harper attended the Pittsburgh Musical Institute and the University of Pittsburgh for two years.
After several years of touring, Harper consciously opted for a different lifestyle and he decided to build his musical career on his own home turf of Pittsburgh. In 1958, Harper's band started a long standing gig at the popular Crawford Grill
in the Hill District. Crawford Grill became a popular destination, and Harper remained there until 1969 when he opened his own club, WALT HARPER'S ATTIC, in downtown Pittsburgh. He also owned another club HARPER'S in downtown Pittsburgh from 1983 to 1988.
In the 1970s, Harper and his band were hired by the owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers
as the house band to play at all home games, and they did so until 2002.
Harper's reputation as a musician in the jazz world often attracted many of the greatest names in jazz to both of his clubs. Among the many musicians featured at both of Harper's clubs were: Cannonball Adderley, Max Roach
, singer Nancy Wilson, Mel Tormé
, Wynton Marsalis
, The Modern Jazz Quartet
, Dave Brubeck
and countless others in the jazz world.
. He was 80 years old at the time of his death in October 2006. Active until the end, Harper was fully booked into the following year at jazz venues in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.
Harper is survived by his wife, Maggie Harper, and his only daughter from his first marriage, Sharynn Harper a New York based writer/independent producer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz pianist and influential nightclub owner.
Harper was well known in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. His international reputation and musical ties to some of the greatest names in the jazz world attracted many of the stars to Pittsburgh to perform at nightclubs that he owned and jazz festivals that he produced.
Early life
Harper grew up in the Schenley Heights section of Pittsburgh and was the sixth of eight children. Harper's father had a business as a contractor and his mother was a homemaker. Two of his brothers, pianist Ernie Harper and Nate Harper (saxophonist) were also professional musicians. He attended Schenley High SchoolSchenley High School
Schenley High School is both a public school building and a school program that closed with the graduating class of 2011. Schenley High School is located in the North Oakland neighborhood at the edge of the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2008 the school's staff and...
as did two of his best friends - musical giants in the jazz world bassist Ray Brown
Ray Brown (musician)
Raymond Matthews Brown was an American jazz double bassist.-Biography:Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one...
and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine
Stanley Turrentine
Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family...
.
Harper's interest in jazz music was already cemented by the time he reached Schenley High School and he was a part of the burgeoning jazz scene of 1940's - 1950's Pittsburgh that produced some of the world's greatest jazz innovators. Harper played valve trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
in the all-city band, but soon after switched to piano. He also was a member of the Swinging Five, a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
group he founded with bassist Ray Brown. As teenagers, Harper and Brown would often venture across town to jazz musician Erroll Garner
Erroll Garner
Erroll Louis Garner was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his swing playing and ballads. His best-known composition, the ballad "Misty", has become a jazz standard...
's house to watch him play piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. After graduating from high school in 1944, Harper attended the Pittsburgh Musical Institute and the University of Pittsburgh for two years.
Musical career
Harper had a 10-piece band that performed around the country in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He played many large and small venues and was extremely popular with the college scene at the time. Early on he gained the nickname "The Prom King" because his band played so many high school and college dates.After several years of touring, Harper consciously opted for a different lifestyle and he decided to build his musical career on his own home turf of Pittsburgh. In 1958, Harper's band started a long standing gig at the popular Crawford Grill
Crawford Grill
Crawford Grill was a renowned jazz club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA's Hill District. Its heyday was the 1930s to 1950s.The club was founded by Gus Greenlee, who first made his reputation as a numbers runner and racketeer, then later as the owner of the Negro League baseball team the Pittsburgh...
in the Hill District. Crawford Grill became a popular destination, and Harper remained there until 1969 when he opened his own club, WALT HARPER'S ATTIC, in downtown Pittsburgh. He also owned another club HARPER'S in downtown Pittsburgh from 1983 to 1988.
In the 1970s, Harper and his band were hired by the owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
as the house band to play at all home games, and they did so until 2002.
Harper's reputation as a musician in the jazz world often attracted many of the greatest names in jazz to both of his clubs. Among the many musicians featured at both of Harper's clubs were: Cannonball Adderley, Max Roach
Max Roach
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history...
, singer Nancy Wilson, Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
, Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
, The Modern Jazz Quartet
Modern Jazz Quartet
The Modern Jazz Quartet was established in 1952 by Milt Jackson , John Lewis , Percy Heath , and Kenny Clarke . Connie Kay replaced Clarke in 1955...
, Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck
David Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
and countless others in the jazz world.
Death
The cause of Harper's death has been stated in the media as a sudden heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. He was 80 years old at the time of his death in October 2006. Active until the end, Harper was fully booked into the following year at jazz venues in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.
Harper is survived by his wife, Maggie Harper, and his only daughter from his first marriage, Sharynn Harper a New York based writer/independent producer.