Norman Harris (musician)

Norman Harris
Birth name Norman Ray Harris
Born (1947-10-14)October 14, 1947
Danville, Virginia, U.S.
Died March 20, 1987(1987-03-20) (aged 39)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genres R&B, soul
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Guitar
Associated acts MFSB

Norman Ray Harris (October 14, 1947 – March 20, 1987) was an American guitarist, producer, arranger and songwriter, closely associated with Philly soul. He was a founding member of MFSB, the Philadelphia studio band, and one of the Baker-Harris-Young record production trio.

Career

Harris was a leading arranger for Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records label in its early years during the 1970s and played guitar on many recording sessions. He also played with Vince Montana's Salsoul Orchestra when several members of MFSB left after financial disagreements with Gamble-Huff in 1974. He later founded his own production company in the mid-1970s called The Harris Machine. In 1980, he released his only solo album, The Harris Machine, on Philadelphia International.

Harris started teaching himself guitar in his teens and began his career in local clubs, often with bassist Ronnie Baker and later drummer Earl Young, and in the house band at the Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia. He then became a session musician as the Philadelphia recording scene expanded.

He later arranged and produced soul and R&B acts during the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, including Blue Magic (with whom he had his biggest success, "Sideshow", a No. 1 R&B hit), First Choice, The Dells, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Trammps, The Whispers, Eddie Kendricks, Barbara Mason, Curtis Mayfield, Joe Simon, and his cousin, Major Harris, a former member of The Delfonics whose brother was songwriter Joseph B. Jefferson. He also produced several acts, including Loleatta Holloway, Eddie Holman, Double Exposure and Love Committee, for Salsoul Records, who distributed his subsidiary label, Gold Mind Records.

He died of cardiovascular disease at the age of 39.[1]

References

  1. ↑ Nicholson, Jim (25 March 1987). "Norman Harris, Phila. Musician, Composer And Grammy Winner". Philadelphia Daily News.
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