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1. #KANSAS CITY JAZZ HENRY STONE FULL#
2. #KANSAS CITY JAZZ HENRY STONE PLUS#
3. #KANSAS CITY JAZZ HENRY STONE PROFESSIONAL#

Saxophonist King Curtis played on most of the Fury sessions, but not on "Kansas City". This had a negative effect on Robinson's Fury label and subsequent Fury singles by Harrison failed to sell, though the average quality was quite good. Savoy boss Herman Lubinsky claimed that Harrison was still technically under contract to Savoy, which led to all sorts of legal wrangles. Federal reissued the 1952 Willie Littlefield version with overdubs and Savoy tried again with Harrison's "Don't Drop It" from five years earlier. Not bad for a $ 40 session! A plethora of cover versions appeared all over the place and those by Rocky Olson, Hank Ballard and Little Richard (finally issued by Art Rupe) also made the Hot 100. "Kansas City" reached the top spot on the Billboard charts (both pop and R&B) in May 1959. Jimmy Spruill played guitar, while Harrison accompanied himself on piano. Wilbert's version was cut on February 25, 1959, at the tail end of a session by his brothers, Jim and Bob (the 'Harrison Brothers'). Though it wasn't a hit, the song was picked up by several other artists, including Little Richard, who recorded it for Specialty in November 1955. He told Robinson that he wanted to record a song that he had been featuring in his live act, "Kansas City", written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952 and recorded that same year by Little Willie Littlefield under the title "K.C. At the beginning of that year Harrison signed with Bobby Robinson's Fury label in New York. Not because there were any qualitative deficiencies in the sides, but because the luck factor didn't take hold. All sorts of things were tried on the Savoy sessions (1954-57), but no hits ensued. Fred Mendelsohn acted as producer, while Leroy Kirkland was responsible for most of the arrangements. While recording for Savoy, Harrison was backed by some of New York's top session men, like Buddy Lucas on sax, Kenny Burrell on guitar and Panama Francis on drums. It sold well locally and was later cut by Jerry Lee Lewis (1960, but unreleased until 1987). His first session for the label, in August 1954 (with Mickey Baker on guitar), yielded the single "Don't Drop It", a cover of a recent Terry Fell country recording.

#KANSAS CITY JAZZ HENRY STONE PLUS#

A second session for Rockin' plus another one for Stone's Chart label, both in 1953, preceded a move to Newark, NJ, where Harrison was signed to Savoy Records by Fred Mendelsohn. Not all that surprising, given his exposure to hillbilly music as a kid in North Carolina.

The other side, "Letter Edged in Black", was essentially C&W.

Harrison's first single (also issued on DeLuxe) was "This Woman Of Mine", which used the same tune and rhythm as his later reading of "Kansas City". Miami entrepreneur Henry Stone signed him to his Rockin' logo in 1952. He taught himself guitar and entered many talent shows. The first style of music that he performed was calypso his first group was called "The Calypso Four".

#KANSAS CITY JAZZ HENRY STONE PROFESSIONAL#

Though he learned to play the piano as a youngster in Charlotte, NC, Harrison didn't take a professional interest in music until 1951, after his discharge from the Navy.

#KANSAS CITY JAZZ HENRY STONE FULL#

'Perceived by casual oldies fans as a two-hit wonder (for his 1959 chart-topper "Kansas City" and a heartwarming "Let's Work Together" a full decade later), Wilbert Harrison actually left behind a varied body of work that blended an intriguing melange of musical idioms into something quite distinctive.' Thus begins Bill Dahl's AMG biography of Wilbert Harrison - an adequate characterization. R&B singer, songwriter, pianist, multi-instrumentalist. Born Wilbert Huntington Harrison, 5 January 1929, Charlotte, North Carolinaĭied 26 October 1994, Spencer, North Carolina