Harry was born on September 19, 1942 in Pensacola, Florida, with five years in music began studying piano. When his family moved to Detroit in his senior year, Harry was infected with the "fever": Jazz and so begins a musical career that lasted more than four decades.
With 17 years is the youngest musician Ray McKenny Quartet. Then he was invited by Al Cooper to join Blood, Sweat and Tears in California in 1969. The following year he was hired by the vibraphonist Roy Ayers and the successful group "Ubiquity." It was in this band where he met the singer Harry Eugene McDaniel, a partnership that would be crucial for his career. Eugene had composed "Feel Like Making Love" for singer Roberta Flack, who listened to Harry and immediately hired him as pianist and musical director of his band.
Through the years his style and approach have graced the proceedings with his arrangements, compositions and accompanied by musicians of the caliber of Carter Jefferson, Phyllis Hyman, Lola Falana, The Spinners, Carmen Lundy, and many others. At the same time Harry was an important influence on New York clubs as Birdland, Smoke, the Village Gate, Bradley's, Sweet Basil's, and the Blue Note. I met him and touch him whenever I was in New York, was the house pianist Arturo's in Greenwich Village and never stopped inviting me to sit in when I saw in the bar.
Harry was an artist selfless and extremely loyal to their music and always willing to help young talents, especially grateful for their support is Claudia Acuña on whom he spent much of his time as the singer emerged in New York in the mid-year 90. He devoted his time, love and talent with a lot of patience, afternoon after afternoon rehearsing tirelessly. I witnessed one evening I heard them rehearsing in Small ', the Village Club, Mitch, the owner, gave them access to and use of your piano.
Claudia's story as we know it now, listen to Harry. On Monday I will devote the entire program to his memory.
From >> http://www.purojazz.com/2010/11/harry-whitaker-1942-2010/
The Harry Whitaker Trio at Capitol Community College - November 2008
Harry Whitaker - Piano
Brandon Lewis - Drums
Rene Cruz - Bass
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