Rufus Harley, 70, first jazz bagpiperRufus Harley, 70, first jazz bagpiperRufus Harley, the world's first jazz bagpipe player and self-proclaimed international ambassador of freedom, died Monday. He was 70.
The Germantown icon, who in his travels handed out miniature Liberty Bells, American flags, and copies of the Constitution to just about anybody he met, died of prostate cancer, friends said.
Dressed in kilts, and playing a balky, droning instrument associated more with the Celtic tradition than the jazz tradition, Harley cut an unusual figure when he performed at jazz concerts.
Harley, born in Raleigh, N.C., played saxophone but was moved to the bagpipes after he saw the Black Watch Scottish Band perform at President John F. Kennedy's funeral.
His teacher was Dennis Sandole, who taught many Philly jazz notables.
Harley recorded several albums for the Atlantic label in the late 1960s. He played on records with Sonny Stitt, Herbie Mann, Sonny Rollins and The Roots.
Over the last several years, led by his good friend saxophonist Byard Lancaster, Harley had traveled to France with a few other local musicians to perform there.
The day before he died, Harley attended the tribute to Philly Joe Jones concert in Germantown to watch his son, Messiah, play trumpet with the Chappy Washington Band.
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Sharon Baptist Church, 3955 Conshohocken Ave.
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/15186068.htm
― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Thursday, 3 August 2006 23:10 (eighteen years ago)
Oh, damn.
Sonny Stitt's "Pipin' the Blues" features a... memorable solo from Rufus H. Especially if you play it for somebody, don't tell them what Harley's instrument is, and don't tell them what the title of the song is. Just say "oh, there's an interesting solo on this one."
Plus he named his son "Messiah"!
― Douglas (Douglas), Friday, 4 August 2006 01:01 (eighteen years ago)
he used to sell homemade cassette dubs of his atlantic albums.That's great. (How would intellectual property ethicists handle that case?) He used to frequently call a WRTI talk show I used to listen to pretty regularly at one time, and he would usually get into numerological stuff (a la Sun Ra) that made no sense to me.
― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Friday, 4 August 2006 01:14 (eighteen years ago)
two weeks pass...
10th Annual African American Cultural Extravaganza
A Musical Tribute to Rufus Harley:
Sunday, August 27th, 2006
12 Noon - 8PM
Penn's Landing
(Columbus Blvd. & Chestnut Street)
Philadelphia, PA
Byard Lancaster All Stars
John Murray & Worship Choir
BJ Shore & MSG
Freedom Choir
Flag Processional - Youth of Africa Cultural Alluance of North America
Baba Obindun, Griot
Kulu Mele African Dance & Drum Ensemble
Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble
Free Admission
― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 20:58 (eighteen years ago)
I'm not sure. Allergy season: if I go out during the afternoon, that means I might get a sinus headache and not make it out in the evening. I am not exaggerating. Byard Lancaster is tempting though, especially in a context like this.
― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 21:12 (eighteen years ago)
Actually, I just found out about this when some glossy cards showed up on a table in the lobby of my apartment building, advertising it. That caught my attention immediately, because it's usually just Chinese menus that turn up there.
― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 21:17 (eighteen years ago)