- Jet Harris
Infobox musical artist
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Name = Jet Harris
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Terence Harris
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Born = birth date and age|1939|7|6
Died =
Origin =Kingsbury ,North London ,England
Instrument =bass guitar
Voice_type =
Genre =
Occupation =bassist
Years_active =
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Associated_acts =The Shadows
URL = [http://www.jet-harris.com/ jet-harris.com]
Notable_instruments =Jet Harris (born Terence Harris,
6 July 1939 , Honeypot Lane,Kingsbury ,North London ,England ) was the bass guitarist ofThe Shadows until April 1962.Life and career
Although he learned to play
clarinet as a teenager, he made his own four stringdouble bass to play in a jazz group and later graduated to a professionally made double bass. In 1958, while playing jazz withdrummer Tony Crombie , Crombie suggested that Harris should try "this new guitar". Thus Harris was possibly the first person in Britain to own an electric bass guitar, and certainly the first to play one in a band.Fact|date=June 2008 His original instrument was aFramus Star bass imported by Besson & Co fromWest Germany .He played in several groups including The
Vipers Skiffle Group and The Most Brothers before joining (in 1959)Cliff Richard 's backing group The Drifters, who later changed their name toThe Shadows (a name Harris took fromBobby Vee 's old backing group). In 1959, after the neck of his Framus was terminally damaged in a dressing room accident, he was presented (by the importers) with one of the firstFender Precision Bass es which came to Britain from theUnited States .Fact|date=June 2008Harris also contributed vocally, adding backup harmonies and occasional lead vocals. He also had a trademark scream used in the Shadows' "Feeling Fine" and Cliff Richard's "Do You Want to Dance".
In 1962, he left the Shadows due to disagreements arising on tour (according to "The Story of The Shadows", written by the group with
Mike Read ). He released solo instrumental and vocal work with some success and, as part of a duo with former Shadows drummerTony Meehan , topped theUK Singles Chart in early 1963 with "Diamonds" (featuringJimmy Page onrhythm guitar ). Harris and Meehan followed this with two further smashes, "Applejack" and "Scarlett O'Hara".However, a motor car crash later that year (in which singer
Billie Davis was also injured), as well as personal problems, meant that this success did not last long. Harris attempted a solo comeback in 1966 and was briefly in the line-up of theJeff Beck Group in 1967, but somewhat fell out of themusic industry . He then worked variously as alabourer ,bricklayer , porter in a hospital,bus conductor , and as a seller ofcockle s on the beach inJersey .Harris still played occasionally, with backing band The Diamonds or as a guest with The Rapiers, and teamed up with Tony Meehan for a support performance in Cliff Richard's 1989 'The Event'
concert s.In 1998 he was awarded a Fender Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in popularising the bass guitar in Britain.
2006 saw Harris' first single release in over 40 years, "San Antonio".fact|date=July 2008
Harris is still an active performer.
elected Singles Discography
* "Diamonds" (with Tony Meehan)
* "Scarlett O'Hara" (with Tony Meehan)
* "Applejack" (with Tony Meehan)
* "Main Title Theme (from The Man With the Golden Arm)" (solo)
* "Besame Mucho " (solo)
* "San Antonio" (solo)External links
* [http://www.jetharris.biz/ Official home of Jet Harris' new album]
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