Dennis Harris
Background information
Birth nameDennis W. Harris
BornUnited States
GenresR&B, soul, jazz, funk, Philadelphia soul, disco
OccupationsStudio musician, bandleader, music teacher
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1970s–present
LabelsPhiladelphia International
Member ofThe New MFSB™
Formerly ofEli's Second Coming, MFSB, The Philly Groove Orchestra, The Salsoul Orchestra, The Trammps

Dennis Harris is an American session guitarist, songwriter and arranger. Historically he played a significant part in the Philly Sound, playing on many of the hits during the 1970s. The hits include, "Only the Strong Survive" by Billy Paul, "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead and "Lady Love" by Lou Rawls. He also played the guitar intro on Rawls' hit "You'll Never Find Another Love like Mine". He is a former member of The Philly Groove Orchestra, The Trammps, MFSB and The Salsoul Orchestra. In recent years he has been part of the New MFSB. He is also a guitar teacher.

Background

Harris joined former Volcanos members which included Jimmy Ellis and became a member of The Trammps which also included Ron Kersey on keyboards, John Hart on organ, Stanley Wade on bass and Michael Thompson on drums.[1][2] He was the original lead guitarist for the group.[3][4]

His guitar can be heard on the song "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead which was a hit in 1979.[5] Along with Bobby Eli, Tommy Bell, Jimmy Williams, and Earl Young, Harris' importance was acknowledged.[6]

With a master's degree in business, Harris has had two concurrent careers, music and banking.[7] He is also a 2016 Musicians Hall of Fame inductee.[8]

Career

Dennis Harris's career really took off in the 1970s when he was playing guitar for the Delfonics. In 1975 he was taken into the studio by the lead singer and he became part of the scene.[9]

He wrote and handled the arrangement and was co-producer for the song "Redwood Beach" which was the B side for MFSB's 1977 single, "Use ta Be My Guy".[10] Another release that year was the Killer Joe album by Benny Golson. Harris played on five of the album's tracks and co-composed the track "Love Uprising".[11] He co-produced the MFSB 1978 album, MFSB: The Gamble & Huff Orchestra which was released in 1978.[12] His guitar line opens up the "There's No Other Like You" which was the B side for Melba Moore's hit "You Stepped Into My Life".[13] He arranged the song "That's Not Part of the Show" which appeared on the 1979 Love Talk album by The Manhattans which got to #20 on the soul chart, and #141 on the pop chart.[14] He played on Leon Huff's solo album, Here to Create Music which was released in 1980.[15]

In February, 2019, he was interviewed on the Doris Hall-James Indie Show. He talked about MFSB as well as his playing the intro on Lou Rawls' hit "You'll Never Find Another Love like Mine".[16] He and In June, he again he was interviewed on The Doris Hall-James Indie Show. He and fellow musician, Jimmy Williams and they talked about his cousin Norman Harris.[17]

In July, 2019, he played at the Philly Beats event which was facilitated by Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts.[18]

Discography

Album sessions (selective)
Act Release Catalogue Year Role Notes #
Dee Dee Sharp Happy 'bout The Whole Thing TSOP PZ 3389 1975 Guitar
Sound Experience Boogie Woogie Buddah Records BDS 5645 1975 Lead guitar
The Trammps Trammps Golden Fleece KZ 33163 1975 Lead guitar
Don Covay Travelin' In Heavy Traffic Philadelphia International Records PZ 33958 1976 Guitar
The Ritchie Family Life Is Music Marlin 2203 1977 Guitar
Lou Rawls When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All Philadelphia International Records PIR 82402 1977 Guitar [19]

References

  1. ↑ The Virgin Encyclopedia of Seventies Music, By Colin Larkin · 1997 - Page 442 Trammps
  2. ↑ The Billboard Book of Top 40 R & B and Hip-hop Hitsby Joel Whitburn 2006 Page 583
  3. ↑ The Trammps Official Website - WHAT'S HAPPENING
  4. ↑ The sound of Philadelphia by Tony Cummings, ISBN 0413340805, 1975 - Page 123
  5. ↑ Genius - Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now
  6. ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov 22, 2016 - Entertainment, Philly 'unsung' musical hero Bobby Eli gets a Nashville spotlight
  7. ↑ The New MFSB - Biographies, DENNIS HARRIS—Guitar
  8. ↑ The Philadelphia Tribune, Oct 11, 2016 - Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum inducts Philly's finest by Kimberly C. Roberts
  9. ↑ The New MFSB - Biographies, DENNIS HARRIS—Guitar
  10. ↑ 45Cat- Use Ta Be My Guy
  11. ↑ Sessiondays.com - 1977 Benny Golson – Killer Joe
  12. ↑ Jet, December 7, 1978 - Make room for MFSB®. On the dance floor. And in your heart
  13. ↑ Black Music & Jazz Review, Volume 2 - Page 4
  14. ↑ Soul Express - THE MANHATTANS – part 3 (1971 – 1979), LOVE TALK
  15. ↑ Billboard, August 2, 1980 - Page 31 General News, Leon Huff Becomes A Piano Man
    Philadelphia International Co-Owner Cuts An Eclectic LP By Jean Williams
  16. ↑ The Doris Hall-James Indie Show, Feb 2, 2019 - Musical Journey's of Dennis Harris 11:53 - 12:13
  17. ↑ YouTube, The Doris Hall-James Indie Show, Jun 18, 2019 - Musical Journey's of Jimmy Williams and Dennis Harris 35:35
  18. ↑ Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts - Philly Beats – the Music and Musicians
  19. ↑ Discogs - Dennis Harris Credits

Interviews

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