Harper grew up in the Schenley Heights section of Pittsburgh and was the sixth of eight children. Harper's father had a business as a contractor and his mother was a homemaker. Two of his brothers, pianist Ernie Harper and saxophonist Nate Harper were also professional musicians. He attended Schenley High School, as did two of his best friends who became musical giants in the jazz world, bassist Ray Brown and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine.
Harper's interest in jazz music was already cemented by the time he reached Schenley High School. He was part of the burgeoning jazz scene in Pittsburgh during the 1940s and 1950s, which produced some of the world's greatest jazz innovators. Harper played valve trombone in the all-city band, but soon after switched to piano. He also was a member of the Swinging Five, a jazz group he founded with bassist Ray Brown. As teenagers, Harper and Brown would often venture across town to jazz musician Erroll Garner's house to watch him play piano. After graduating from high school in 1944, Harper attended the Pittsburgh Musical Institute and the University of Pittsburgh for two years.
Musical career
Harper had a 10-piece band that performed around the country in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He played many large and small venues and was extremely popular with the college scene at the time. Early on he gained the nickname "The Prom King" because his band played so many high school and college dates.
After several years of touring, Harper consciously opted for a different lifestyle, and he decided to build his musical career on his home turf of Pittsburgh. In 1958, Harper's band started a long-standing gig at the popular Crawford Grill in the Hill District. Crawford Grill became a popular destination, and Harper remained there until 1969 when he opened his own club, Walt Harper's Attic, in downtown Pittsburgh. He also owned another club, Harper's, in downtown Pittsburgh from 1983 to 1988.
In the 1970s, Harper and his band were hired by the owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the house band to play at all home games, and they did so until 2002.
Harper died from a heart attack on October 25, 2006, at the age of 80.[1] He was survived by his wife, Maggie Harper, and his only daughter from his first marriage, Sharynn Harper, a New York-based writer and independent producer. Harper is interred at Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2]
Selected discography
Harper's Ferry (Encore Custom, 1962)
Plays The College Beat (Gateway, 1963)
On the Road (Gateway, 1966)
Walt Harper at Fallingwater (Birmingham, 1971)
Live At The Attic (Birmingham, 1971)
Christmas Eve with Walt Harper (Open Pantry, 1974)
walt, harper, mountaineer, walter, harper, walter, eugene, harper, july, 1926, october, 2006, american, jazz, pianist, influential, nightclub, owner, birth, namewalter, eugene, harperborn, 1926, july, 1926pittsburgh, pennsylvania, diedoctober, 2006, 2006, aged. For the mountaineer see Walter Harper Walter Eugene Harper July 3 1926 October 25 2006 was an American jazz pianist and influential nightclub owner Walt HarperBirth nameWalter Eugene HarperBorn 1926 07 03 July 3 1926Pittsburgh Pennsylvania U S DiedOctober 25 2006 2006 10 25 aged 80 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania U S GenresJazzOccupation s MusicianInstrument s PianoWebsitewww wbr waltharperandallthatjazz wbr com Contents 1 Early life 2 Musical career 3 Death 4 Selected discography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditHarper grew up in the Schenley Heights section of Pittsburgh and was the sixth of eight children Harper s father had a business as a contractor and his mother was a homemaker Two of his brothers pianist Ernie Harper and saxophonist Nate Harper were also professional musicians He attended Schenley High School as did two of his best friends who became musical giants in the jazz world bassist Ray Brown and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine Harper s interest in jazz music was already cemented by the time he reached Schenley High School He was part of the burgeoning jazz scene in Pittsburgh during the 1940s and 1950s which produced some of the world s greatest jazz innovators Harper played valve trombone in the all city band but soon after switched to piano He also was a member of the Swinging Five a jazz group he founded with bassist Ray Brown As teenagers Harper and Brown would often venture across town to jazz musician Erroll Garner s house to watch him play piano After graduating from high school in 1944 Harper attended the Pittsburgh Musical Institute and the University of Pittsburgh for two years Musical career EditHarper had a 10 piece band that performed around the country in the late 1940s and early 1950s He played many large and small venues and was extremely popular with the college scene at the time Early on he gained the nickname The Prom King because his band played so many high school and college dates After several years of touring Harper consciously opted for a different lifestyle and he decided to build his musical career on his home turf of Pittsburgh In 1958 Harper s band started a long standing gig at the popular Crawford Grill in the Hill District Crawford Grill became a popular destination and Harper remained there until 1969 when he opened his own club Walt Harper s Attic in downtown Pittsburgh He also owned another club Harper s in downtown Pittsburgh from 1983 to 1988 In the 1970s Harper and his band were hired by the owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the house band to play at all home games and they did so until 2002 Harper s reputation as a musician in the jazz world attracted many of the greatest names in jazz to both of his clubs 1 Among the many musicians featured at Harper s clubs were Cannonball Adderley Max Roach Nancy Wilson Mel Torme Wynton Marsalis the Modern Jazz Quartet Dave Brubeck and countless others in the jazz world Death EditHarper died from a heart attack on October 25 2006 at the age of 80 1 He was survived by his wife Maggie Harper and his only daughter from his first marriage Sharynn Harper a New York based writer and independent producer Harper is interred at Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 2 Selected discography EditHarper s Ferry Encore Custom 1962 Plays The College Beat Gateway 1963 On the Road Gateway 1966 Walt Harper at Fallingwater Birmingham 1971 Live At The Attic Birmingham 1971 Christmas Eve with Walt Harper Open Pantry 1974 Night Thoughts Birmingham 1977 References Edit a b Guidry Nate 26 October 2006 City jazz icon Walt Harper dies Pittsburgh Post Gazette Walt Harper 1926 2006 The Homewood Cemetery Historical Fund 8 February 2015 Retrieved 13 November 2015 External links EditWalt Harper at AllMusic Walt Harper discography at Discogs Walt Harper at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walt Harper amp oldid 1018338336, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
