Kent Harris

Kent Harris was an American songwriter and producer.

Biography

Kent Levaughn Harris was born in 1930 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is best known as being the writer of novelty tunes such as "Shoppin' For Clothes" (a hit for The Coasters) and "Cops And Robbers" (a hit for Bo Diddley).

Harris first recorded in 1954 as Ducky Drake for Trend Records, singing the B-side of his sister Dimples Harris' record "Hey Mr. Jelly." The B-side was called "1992." He would then change his stage name to Boogaloo. Harris originally recorded "Shoppin' For Clothes" for Crest Records as "Clothesline." It was released in 1956 as by Boogaloo and His Gallant Crew. The Coasters' hit version was released in 1960. The B-side of this record, "Cops And Robbers," later became a hit for Bo Diddley in 1957. His previous release for the label in 1955 was "Big Fat Lie" b/w "Talk About A Party."

His sisters Marcene, Beverly, and Betty Harris recorded together as The Harris Sisters. Marcene "Dimples" Harris also had a single released in 1956 on Crest Records called "This I Do Believe" b/w "If You'll Be True" (Crest #1030) under the name Dimples Harris. Dimples also recorded for Savoy Records in 1951 as the Dimples Harris Trio. One record "Che Bongo Blues" b/w "Call Me Daddy" was released on Regent #1045. Two other recordings "I Do Believe" and "Good Timing Papa" were not released. Dimples also released some records as Marcene Harris such as "A Song To You" b/w "I Know How It Feels" (Romark #118), "Work It Out" b/w "Children Of Georgia" (Romark), "Hang On To What You Got" (Octive #8270), and "I Just Don't Understand" b/w "Guess Who" (Valiant #727, released in 1965). Dimples married Harold "Hack" Jackson. Betty was married to comedian Redd Foxx. Beverly also filled in for Zola Taylor singing with The Platters. Dimples died in 1976. cite book

first=& Steve Propes
last= Galen Gart
authorlink=
coauthors=
year=2001
title= L. A. R&B Vocal Groups 1945-1965
publisher=Big Nickel Publications
location=Milford, NH
pages= p. 75
id= ISBN 0-936433-18-3]

Kent Harris produced records for several artists in the 1960's and 1970's. He produced "Stick Shift" b/w "Cruising" by The Duals in 1961 and "So Far Away" b/w "Monkey Hips And Rice" by Hank Jacobs in 1963, both records were released on Sue Records. Harris also wrote "Monkey Hips And Rice." He also produced records for Adolph Jacobs, Jimmy Ellis, and Mighty Hannibal on his own label, Romark Records. He produced some jazz recordings for Adolph Jacobs in the 1970's. Jacobs was a former member of The Coasters in the 1950's. Harris co-produced a record with Obie Jessie (better known as Young Jessie) in 1972 on Stone Dogg Records called "Who's The Blame" b/w "Beautiful Day My Brother" by Obe Jessie and The Seeds Of Freedom.

Other songs written by Kent Harris include "Fat Sally" by The Sevilles (from 1961), "Lover Supreme" by Prentice Moreland, "I'll Come Back To You" by Dorothy Berry, "Tell Her For Me" by Jimmy Norman, "Oh! My Aching Back" by H. B. Barnum (all from 1962), and "The Big Rip Off" by The Coasters (from 1976).

Harris was married to soul singer Ty Karim and produced some of her records. Their daughter Karime Harris is also a singer with the funk group the Killer Meters.

Discography

ingles

* Hey Mr. Jelly/1992 (Trend #2500) (1954) (Side A is by Dimples Harris) (Side B is by Kent Harris as Ducky Drake)
* Big Fat Lie/Talk About A Party (Crest #1014) (1955) (as Boogaloo and His Gallant Crew)
* Clothesline/Cops And Robbers (Crest #1030) (1956) (as Boogaloo and His Gallant Crew)

Various artists compilations

* Talk About A Party: Crest Records Story (Rockstar) (2004)
* The Best Of Crest Records (Crest #1000)

Notes

External links

* [http://rockinsteve.wordpress.com/2007/10/14/the-real-shoppin-for-clothes/ The Real Shoppin' For Clothes]
* [http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/kent_harris.htm This Is My Story]
* [http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&fromrow=1&torow=25&affiliation=BMI&cae=136653764&keyID=147410&keyname=HARRIS%20KENT&querytype=WriterID BMI Catalog]
* [http://www.killermeters.com/ Karime Kenda & The Killer Meters Website]