By John Rigg
James Burgess "Jimmy" Harrison Sr., a jazz musician and longtime music educator, died Tuesday at a Houston hospice from Alzheimer's disease. He was 83.
The trombone player-turned-teacher taught in the North Forest and later in the Houston school districts. One of his students was Phylicia Rashad, best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show.
"He grew up in a very musical family. We were playing music all the time," said Harrison's widow, Vivian Harrison. "He would just sing and play … music was just his life."
Born in Connecticut
Harrison was born Dec. 4, 1928 in Stamford, Conn. He would later tour with his family, known as the Harrison Family Singers, performing gospel music in upstate New York and New Jersey. In school, he performed in school bands, ensembles and orchestras.
He also organized a bebop group known as the "Jive Bombers" with boyhood friend Horace Silver, the contemporary jazz pianist and composer.
"(Harrison) really liked band music. When he went to college, he had a desire to play with theDuke Ellington Band," said Vivian Harrison. "When he graduated, Duke Ellington didn't have any openings."
Throughout his lifetime, Harrison would play alongside such jazz musicians as Arnett Cobb,Mildred Jones and Richard "Dickie Boy" Lillie.
His career as an educator started in Oklahoma, after graduation from Central State Universityin Wilberforce, Ohio, but was interrupted a year later when he joined the U.S. Army.
"If he was going to be drafted on a Monday, than he (enlisted) the previous Friday," said Vivian Harrison. There he became a member of the 173rd Army Band.
"He enjoyed performing in the Army Band and had a lot of performances and parades … it fueled his passion for music."
Moved to Houston
When his military service ended, Harrison moved to Houston and married college sweetheartVivian Johnson. The couple shared a passion for life and music and celebrated their 58-year anniversary in July.
At North Forest, he was a high school band director. He then transferred to W.E. Miller Junior High in the Houston school district, teaching brass, wind and string instruments and conducting the school band and orchestra.
He later became magnet coordinator and band instructor at MacGregor Elementary.
He retired after spending four decades as an educator and administrator.
In 1961, Harrison earned a master's degree from Teacher's College, Columbia University in New York.
Spotlight Awards
In 2005, he was recognized during the 2005 Spotlight Awards in Washington, D.C., where celebrities praised past instructors who helped them with their careers.
Rashad had chosen her music instructor.
"Mr. Harrison taught all of the instruments," Rashad said at the time. "He took the student where a student wouldn't dare go. … I just want to say thank you for all that you've done."
Vivian Harrison taught Rashad voice lessons and noticed her talent for singing and the strong relationship between her husband and Rashad.
"I think they motivated each other musically," she said.
Survivors include his wife; daughter, Jamelle C. Woodard; son, James B. Harrison, III; and his grandchildren, Avery Elise and O'Neal Stafford James Harrison.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler Avenue.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment