Beaver Harris

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William Godvin "Beaver" Harris (b. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1936; d. New York, New York, December 22, 1991) was an American jazz drummer, who worked extensively with Archie Shepp.[1]

Biography

Harris was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Harris came from an athletic family. He played baseball as a teenager for the Kansas City Monarchs (then part of the Negro American League) and was scouted by major league teams Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants.[2]

It was only after he was in the army that he began playing drums. After his national service ended in 1963 he moved to New York City and was encouraged to pursue a musical career by Max Roach. While in New York he worked and/or toured with Marion Brown, Dexter Gordon, Albert Ayler, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Jordan, Howard Johnson, Sheila Jordan, Lee Konitz, Thelonious Monk, Roswell Rudd, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner,[2] Sonny Stitt, Clark Terry, Chet Baker, Doc Cheatham and Larry Coryell among other musicians.

In addition, Harris founded a "world music" band and called it "The 360 Degree Music Experience". The band included some of the most significant artists of the time, including Buster Williams, Hamiet Bluiett, Don Pullen, Jimmy Garrison, Ron Carter, Ricky Ford, Titos Sompa and many others.

Harris died of prostate cancer at the age of 55.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Marion Brown

With Roswell Rudd

With Albert Ayler

  • Lörrach, Paris 1966
  • Stockholm, Berlin 1966'

With Archie Shepp

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic biography
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pareles, Jon. "Beaver Harris, 55, A Leading Drummer in Jazz Ensembles". The New York Times, Jan. 7, 1992
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