Wilbert Harrison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilbert Harrison
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Wilbert Huntington Harrison |
| Born | January 5, 1929 Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | October 26, 1994 (aged 65) Spencer, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Genres | Rhythm and blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, vocalist |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboard |
| Years active | 1950–1990 |
| Labels | Savoy Records, Sue Records, Fury, Sphere Sound, Juggernaut, Chelsea |
Wilbert Huntington Harrison (born January 5, 1929 – died October 26, 1994) was an American rhythm and blues singer. He was also a talented pianist, guitarist, and harmonica player.
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Wilbert Harrison's Early Life and Music
Wilbert Harrison was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He became famous in 1959 with his hit song "Kansas City". This song reached number one on the Billboard charts.
The song "Kansas City" was first written in 1952. It was one of the earliest songs created by the famous songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Wilbert Harrison's version of "Kansas City" was a huge success. It sold over one million copies! Because of these amazing sales, it earned a gold disc. This means it was officially recognized for selling so many copies.
Harrison recorded "Kansas City" with Bobby Robinson. Robinson was a music producer from Harlem, New York. He released the song on his record label, Fury.
Challenges After a Big Hit
Right after "Kansas City" became a hit, Wilbert Harrison faced a problem. Another record company, Savoy Records, said Harrison had a contract with them. They claimed that releasing "Kansas City" in March 1959 broke their agreement. This legal issue lasted for several months. It stopped Bobby Robinson from releasing new songs from Harrison. This was tough because Harrison was a big star at the time.
Later Success and Other Famous Songs
Even with the legal issues, Wilbert Harrison kept performing and recording music. It took ten more years for him to have another big hit. In early 1970, his song "Let's Work Together (Part 1)" reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Harrison wrote this song himself.
The 1970 hit version of "Let's Work Together" was released as a single. It also appeared on his album called Let's Work Together. Interestingly, Harrison had released an earlier version of this song in 1962. It was called "Let's Stick Together" and had slightly different lyrics.
"Let's Work Together" became popular with other artists too. The band Canned Heat had a hit with it. Later, Bryan Ferry also had success with his version, calling it "Let's Stick Together". Even the country rock band the Kentucky Headhunters recorded it for a movie soundtrack.
In 1970, Harrison also had some success with his song "My Heart Is Yours". He spent many years touring and performing. Sometimes he toured with his band, 'Wilbert Harrison and the Roamers'. Other times, he performed as a solo artist. He released another album that year called Anything You Want.
Legacy and Awards
Wilbert Harrison passed away in 1994 at the age of 65. He died from a stroke in a nursing home in Spencer, North Carolina.
His music continues to be remembered. In 2001, his recording of "Kansas City" received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. This award honors recordings that are important and have lasting quality. The song is also listed as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. This shows how much impact his music had.
In 2009, Wilbert Harrison was honored in his home state. He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Wilbert Harrison, a talented musician.
See also
