Morning Edition takes a look at Cornbread Harris

Topics | Arts & Culture | Types | Profiles | Performances | Programs & Series | Morning Edition | Special Collections | Minnesota Musicians | Black music in the North Star State | People | Cornbread Harris: A Profile |
April 23, 2018
Cathy Wurzer - Host, James "Cornbread" Harris, Sr. - Performer and Profiled Subject
Listen: 20180423 M.E. Music 4-23-18
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Morning Edition takes a look at Minneapolis musician James "Cornbread" Harris who turned 91 on this day. In 2017, Harris stopped by MPR studios and spoke with Tom Weber and Andrea Swensson. While he was here he played a song called "Cool Rider." Harris says he wrote it about the aspirations he had for his son, who would become the highly successful record producer Jimmy Jam Harris.

Segment opens with the Augie Garcia Quintet’s "Hi Yo Silver," a 1955 recording considered by many to be the first rock and roll record made in Minnesota. Harris still performs regularly and will be playing at a birthday party in his honor at the Grand Cafe in Minneapolis.

Transcripts

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[AUGIE GARCIA QUINTET, "HI-YO SILVER"] (SINGING) Turn off the waterworks, baby

You don't move me no more

Turn off the waterworks, baby

You don't move me no more

When I split this town

I ain't coming back no more

I'm singing hi-yo

Hi-yo silver, hi-yo

Hi-yo silver, hi-yo

Hi-yo silver, hi-yo

Hi-yo silver, hi-yo

Hi-yo silver

Hey!

SPEAKER: That's the Augie Garcia Quintet with "Hi-Yo Silver," a 1955 recording, considered by many to be the first rock and roll record made in Minnesota. The piano player on that recording was James "Cornbread" Harris, who turns 91 today. He still performs regularly. And tonight he'll be playing at a birthday party in his honor at the Grand Cafe in Minneapolis.

Last year, Harris stopped by our studios and spoke with Tom Weber and Andrea Swensson. While he was here, of course, he played a song called "Cool Rider." Harris says he wrote it about the aspirations he had for his son, who would become the highly successful record producer Jimmy Jam Harris.

(SINGING) Went up in a jet plane 100 miles out

When I got back, you should have heard the people shout

Right on, right on

Right on, Cool Rider

You know you're real, real gone

Went up in a rocket ship with lots of smoke and dust

Written on the rocket ship to the moon a bus

Right on, right on

Right on, Cool Rider

You know you're real, real gone

Right on, right on, right on, right on

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