Rufus Harley Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1936-05-20)May 20, 1936 Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | August 1, 2006(2006-08-01) (aged 70) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Bagpipes |
| Years active | 1960s–2005 |
| Labels | Atlantic |
Rufus Harley Jr. (May 20, 1936 – August 1, 2006) was an Americanjazz musician known primarily as the first jazz musician to adopt theGreat Highland bagpipe as his primary instrument.
Although born nearRaleigh, North Carolina, at an early age Harley moved with his mother to a poor neighborhood inNorth Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began playing theC melody saxophone at age 12 and also played trumpet. At the age of 22, he began studying saxophone, flute, oboe, and clarinet withDennis Sandole (1913–2000), an Italian Americanjazz guitarist who taught several jazz musicians in Philadelphia including John Coltrane, James Moody, Jim Hall, and Pat Martino.[1]
Harley became inspired to learn the bagpipe after seeing theBlack Watch perform inJohn F. Kennedy's funeral procession in November 1963. Then a maintenance worker for Philadelphia's housing authority, Harley began searching the city for a set of bagpipes. Failing to find one, he traveled to New York City, where he found a set in a pawn shop. He purchased the instrument for US$120, quickly adapting it to the idioms of jazz,blues, andfunk. On several occasions, when a neighbor called the police to complain about Harley's practicing in his home, he would quickly put away his bagpipes and feign ignorance, asking the officers, "Do I look like I'm Irish or Scottish to you?"[2] He eventually acquired a better set of bagpipes, which cost him a little over US$1,000.[3]
Harley made his bagpipe performance debut in 1964. From 1965 to 1970 he released four recordings as leader on theAtlantic label (all produced byJoel Dorn, an early supporter), also recording as a sideman withHerbie Mann,Sonny Stitt, andSonny Rollins in the 1960s and 1970s. He later recorded withLaurie Anderson (appearing on her 1982 albumBig Science) andThe Roots (on their 1995 albumDo You Want More?!!!??!), the latter coming about due to a 1994 appearance onThe Arsenio Hall Show. In addition to bagpipes, on these albums he also occasionally played tenor saxophone, flute, or electric soprano saxophone.
Harley often wore Scottish garb, including akilt, in conjunction with aViking-stylehorned helmet. After seeing him perform on television, a Scottish family gave him histartan, theMacLeod tartan, which he wore for the rest of his life.[3] His bagpipe technique was somewhat unorthodox in that he placed the drones over his right shoulder rather than his left. He favored the key ofB-flat minor.
Harley lived for much of his life in theGermantown neighborhood ofNorthwestPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, and frequently gave presentations in Philadelphia-area public schools. During his frequent overseas performance tours, he carried and distributed miniature replicas of theLiberty Bell, the symbol of his hometown, as well as American flags and copies of theU.S. Constitution. He appeared on a number of television programs, includingWhat's My Line?,To Tell the Truth (March 22, 1965[4] and again c. 2000),I've Got a Secret (October 17, 1966),[5] andThe Arsenio Hall Show. He also had a small role inFrancis Ford Coppola's 1966 comedy filmYou're a Big Boy Now, as well asEddie and the Cruisers (1983). In addition to his performing career, he worked for the Philadelphia Housing Authority for many years.
Harley's albumBrotherly Love, released on CD in 1998, was released at the same time as Charles Powell's bookThe Jazzish Bagpiper, an anthology of images and conversations with Harley. Powell was the first to compliment Harley on his contributions with Celtic bagpipes to American music.[6] Writing in the sleeve notes for the album, Ralph Stevenson Jr., Harley's executive producer, noted:
Rufus Harley resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania home of the Liberty Bell. Harley, musical ambassador of the City of Brotherly love, has been received and embraced by tribal leaders, heads of state and many notables from around the world. His message of peace and love is blended in this CD collaboration and led by his dues paid, musical labor of sax and bagpipes.[7]
Harley performed with many notable jazz musicians such asJohn Coltrane,Dizzy Gillespie andDexter Gordon.[8]
Harley died ofprostate cancer atAlbert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia on August 1, 2006.[9]
A posthumous retrospective onRhino Handmade,Courage: The Atlantic Recordings, was released in November 2006 as a 3,000-copy limited edition and contains all the tracks from his four Atlantic LPs, plus an unreleased track ofPete Seeger andJoe Hickerson's compositionWhere Have All the Flowers Gone? recorded in 1969.
WithLaurie Anderson
WithHerbie Mann
WithSonny Rollins
WithThe Roots:
WithSonny Stitt
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