Dennis Harris (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis Harris
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Dennis W. Harris |
| Born | United States |
| Genres | R&B, soul, jazz, funk, Philadelphia soul, disco |
| Occupations | Studio musician, bandleader, music teacher |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Labels | Philadelphia International |
| Associated acts | Patryce Banks, East Coast |
Dennis Harris is an American musician. He is known for playing the guitar, writing songs, and arranging music. He was a big part of the "Philly Sound" in the 1970s. This was a special kind of soul and R&B music from Philadelphia.
Dennis Harris played guitar on many famous songs. These include "Only the Strong Survive" by Billy Paul and "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead. He also played the guitar intro for Lou Rawls' hit song "You'll Never Find Another Love like Mine". He has been a member of several well-known groups like The Trammps and MFSB. Today, he is part of a group called The New MFSB. He also teaches people how to play the guitar.
Who is Dennis Harris?
Dennis Harris joined a band called The Trammps early in his career. He was the original lead guitarist for the group. Other members included Ron Kersey, John Hart, Stanley Wade, and Michael Thompson.
His amazing guitar playing can be heard on the popular 1979 song "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". This song was a big hit for McFadden & Whitehead. Many people recognized his important role in creating that sound.
Besides music, Dennis Harris also has a master's degree in business. This means he has worked in both music and banking! In 2016, he was honored by being inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. This shows how much his work is appreciated.
Making Music: His Career Highlights
Dennis Harris's music career really took off in the 1970s. He started by playing guitar for a group called The Delfonics. In 1975, he began working in the studio, becoming a key part of the music scene.
He helped write and arrange the song "Redwood Beach." He also co-produced it. This song was the B-side for MFSB's 1977 single, "Use ta Be My Guy." That same year, he played on five songs for Benny Golson's album, Killer Joe. He even helped write a song on that album called "Love Uprising."
In 1978, Dennis Harris co-produced the album MFSB: The Gamble & Huff Orchestra for MFSB. His guitar playing starts the song "There's No Other Like You." This song was the B-side for Melba Moore's hit "You Stepped Into My Life". He also arranged "That's Not Part of the Show." This song was on The Manhattans' 1979 album, Love Talk. That album reached #20 on the soul music charts.
He also played on Leon Huff's solo album, Here to Create Music, which came out in 1980.
In recent years, Dennis Harris has shared his musical stories. In 2019, he was interviewed on The Doris Hall-James Indie Show. He talked about his time with MFSB and playing the famous guitar intro on Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love like Mine". He also played at the Philly Beats event in July 2019. This event was put on by the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts.
Want to Learn More?
- AllMusic, Credits, Dennis Harris
- Discogs, Dennis Harris
- jaxta | Official Music Credits - Dennis Harris: https://jaxsta.com/profile/1b822833-0686-4330-ac9f-e1718cb17413/catalogue?view=tile
- Metason, ArtistInfo, Dennis Harris
Interviews
- The Doris Hall-James Indie Show, February 2, 2019 Musical Journey's of Dennis Harris
- The Doris Hall-James Indie Show, Jun 18, 2019
