Corey Harris

Visit Corey Harris on the web!

Corey Harris, a prodigious guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and bandleader, was born in Denver, Colorado to parents from Texas and Kentucky. His musical journey began as a street singer in the vibrant city of New Orleans, and from there, he embarked on a transformative exploration of the blues throughout the southern United States. A year spent in Cameroon, West Africa during his early twenties had a profound impact on his artistic development, shaping his unique approach to the blues. Harris’s musical prowess extends beyond traditional blues as he fearlessly integrates influences from reggae, soul, rock, and West African music into his compositions. His ability to honor the roots of the blues while infusing it with his own inventive style is exemplified in his acclaimed albums. “Between Midnight and Day” (1995) pays homage to acoustic blues traditions, while “Greens From the Garden” (1999), “Mississippi to Mali” (2003), and “Daily Bread” (2005) showcase his evolution into a skilled songwriter. Some of his compositions exhibit deliberate eclecticism, while others stay true to the raw essence of compelling vocals and guitar that define the traditional blues. Throughout his illustrious career, Corey Harris has shared stages, recorded, and toured with an esteemed array of musicians, including BB King, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Henry Butler, R.L. Burnside, John Jackson, Ali Farka Toure, Dave Matthews Band, Tracy Chapman, Olu Dara, Wilco, and Natalie Merchant. Notably, Harris’s talent caught the attention of renowned filmmaker Martin Scorcese, who featured him as an artist and narrator in the critically acclaimed documentary “Feel Like Going Home” (2003), tracing the blues from its origins in West Africa to the southern United States. Harris’s exceptional contributions to the blues genre have been recognized and celebrated. In 2007, he was honored with a MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “genius grant,” for his innovative and eclectic approach to music. This prestigious grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation acknowledged Harris as an artist who fearlessly forges new paths. In the same year, he received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. With his enduring dedication to pushing the boundaries of the blues, Corey Harris continues to create music that blends tradition and innovation. His albums, including “Insurrection Blues” (2021), “Free Waterway” (2019), “Live at New Orleans Jazz Fest” (2016), “Live in Vienna Austria” (2016), and “Live on Turtle Island” (2015), serve as testaments to his unwavering artistry and the ever-evolving nature of his musical expression.