Don "Sugarcane" Harris

Don "Sugarcane" Harris

Harris performing in Hamburg, 1971
Background information
Birth name Don Francis Bowman Harris
Born June 18, 1938
Pasadena, California, United States
Died November 30, 1999 (aged 61)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Rock and roll, R&B, jazz fusion
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Vocals, electric violin, violin, guitar, organ
Years active 1960s - 1999
Labels Specialty
Associated acts Don and Dewey, Tupelo Chain Sex, Frank Zappa, Johnny Otis, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Pure Food and Drug Act
Website Sugarcane Harris.com

Don Francis Bowman Harris (June 18, 1938[1] – November 30, 1999), known as Don "Sugarcane" Harris, was an American rock and roll violinist and guitarist.

Biography

Harris was born and raised in Pasadena, California, and started an act called Don and Dewey with his childhood friend Dewey Terry in the mid 1950s. Although they were recorded by Art Rupe on his Specialty label, mostly utilizing the services of legendary drummer Earl Palmer, Don and Dewey didn't have any hits. However, Harris and Terry co-authored such early rock and roll classics as "Farmer John", "Justine", "I'm Leaving It Up to You", and "Big Boy Pete," all of which became hits for other artists.

Harris was given the nickname "Sugarcane" by bandleader Johnny Otis and it was to remain with him throughout his life.

After separating from Dewey Terry in the 1960s, Harris moved almost exclusively over to the electric violin. He was to reappear as a sideman with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and Frank Zappa, most recognized for his appearances on Hot Rats, and on the Mothers of Invention albums Burnt Weeny Sandwich and Weasels Ripped My Flesh. His lead vocal and blues violin solo on a cover of Little Richard's "Directly From My Heart to You" on Weasels, and his extended solo on the lengthy "Little House I Used To Live In" on Weeny are considered highlights of those albums. Reportedly, he was rescued from a jail term by Zappa. Zappa had long admired Harris's playing and bailed him out of prison, resurrecting his career and ushering in a long period of creativity for the forgotten violin virtuoso. He played a couple of live concerts with Zappa's band in 1969.

During the early 1970s, Sugarcane fronted the Pure Food and Drug Act which included drummer Paul Lagos, guitarists Harvey Mandel and Randy Resnick, and bassist Victor Conte, who was the founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO). Conte replaced Larry Taylor who was the original bass player. His first solo album (with back cover art by underground poster artist Rick Griffin) is a forgotten masterpiece of blues, jazz, classical and funk compositions, and his 1973 live album Sugarcane's Got The Blues, recorded at the Berlin Jazz Festival show an accomplished musician at the top of his game.

In the 1980s, Sugarcane was a member of the Los Angeles-based experimental rock band Tupelo Chain Sex.

Harris died on November 27, 1999 in Los Angeles, California.[2]

Discography

Collaborations

  • John Lee Hooker: Born In Mississippi – 1973
  • Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: Sonny & Brownie – 1973
  • Frank Zappa: Apostrophe (') – 1974
  • Don & Dewey: Don And Dewey – 1974
  • Spud: Happy Handful – 1975
  • John Mayall: New Year, New Band, New Company – 1975
  • John Mayall: Notice To Appear – 1975
  • John Mayall: Banquet In Blues – 1976
  • Billy Bang: Changing Seasons – 1980
  • Tupelo Chain Sex: Ja-Jazz – 1983
  • Tupelo Chain Sex: Spot The Difference – 1984
  • Don & Dewey: Bim Bam! – 1985
  • John Mayall: Archives To Eighties – 1988
  • Don & Dewey: Jungle Hop – 1991
  • John Mayall: Room To Move (1969–1974) – 1992
  • Freddie Roulette: Sweet Funky Steel – 1993
  • John Mayall: Cross Country Blues – 1994
  • Frank Zappa: The Lost Episodes – 1996

References

  1. Family Tree Legends
  2. Pareles, Jon (December 10, 1999). "Don Harris, 61, A Versatile Master Of Rhythm and Blues (obituary)". New York Times. pp. C19. Retrieved 24 February 2010.

External links