Biography
Kemp Harris is a multifaceted American artist—singer, songwriter, pianist, actor, activist, author, and award-winning educator—whose work defies easy categorization, blending blues, folk, jazz, soul, and roots music into a distinctive, genre-fluid sound. Born in segregated Edenton, North Carolina, Harris grew up immersed in gospel music, learning piano at age 14 and writing his first songs as a teenager. After relocating to Massachusetts, he honed his craft in the vibrant Cambridge coffeehouse scene, developing a powerful, intimate performance style that has drawn comparisons to Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, and Gil Scott-Heron. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Harris has performed across the U.S. and Europe, composed for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and maintained a parallel career as a public school teacher, educating young students for over 40 years. His music is deeply personal and socially conscious, reflecting his experiences as a Black, gay man navigating America’s complexities—from the pain of segregation to the hope of the civil rights movement and beyond. Albums like Edenton and Live at The Bird SF showcase his ability to fuse the personal and political, the sacred and profane, with clarity, compassion, and soul. Harris’s legacy is that of a Renaissance man whose art is rooted in storytelling, human connection, and a relentless pursuit of truth.
Fun Facts
- Harris taught himself piano at age 14 and began writing songs shortly after, recording them in college using a pair of old cassette players to layer parts.
- He performed his first public gig at a Cambridge coffeehouse called Reflections on Mt. Auburn Street and later sat in with blues legend Koko Taylor at Joe’s Place.
- Harris’s album Edenton is a bittersweet tribute to his segregated hometown, blending personal history with broader social themes.
- Despite his deep roots in American music, Harris cites Steely Dan’s Aja, Joni Mitchell’s Blue, and Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life among his desert island records.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Koko Taylor - Early inspiration and occasional stage collaborator in Cambridge coffeehouses (Live performances at Joe’s Place, Cambridge) [1970s]
- Gil Scott-Heron - Shared stages and mutual artistic respect (Live performances) [1980s–2000s]
- Taj Mahal - Performed together, stylistic influence (Live performances) [1980s–present]
Key Collaborators
- The Holmes Brothers - Backing vocals on Harris’s album Edenton (Edenton) [2010s]
- Freebo - Producer and arranger for The America Chronicles (The America Chronicles) [2020s]
- Adam Osgood - Longtime musical collaborator (harmonica, spoken word) (Live performances, various projects) [1980s–present]
Artists Influenced
- Students (Boston Public Schools) - Award-winning educator, taught for over 40 years (Classroom instruction, mentorship) [1980s–2020s]
- Berklee College of Music students - Delivered master classes on Artists as Activists (Master classes) [2020s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Live at the Bird SF | 2021-01-18 | Album |
| The America Chronicles | 2025-05-16 | Album |
| Edenton | 2006-11-14 | Album |
| Sometimes in Bad Weather | 2002 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Didn't it Rain (Edenton)
- Sweet Weepin' Jesus - Live (Live at the Bird SF)
- Don't You Hear Them America (Don't You Hear Them America)
- Ruthie's (The America Chronicles)
- Ruthie's - Live (Live at the Bird SF)
- Didn't It Rain - Live (Live at the Bird SF)
- The Rain Came Down - Live (Live at the Bird SF)
- Wiggle - Live (Live at the Bird SF)
- I Shall Be Released - Live (Live at the Bird SF)
- Swing Down Chariot - Live (Live at the Bird SF)
External Links
- Spotify
- [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)
Heard on WWOZ
Kemp Harris has been played 2 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.