Major Harris -

Major Harris (Feb. 9, 1947 — Nov. 9, 2012) was an American soul singer from Richmond, Va., who was part of the Nat Turner Rebellion during the late 1960s. Between 1971 and 1975, he sang with Philly act The Delfonics. As a solo artist (1974–78), he released two albums on Atlantic and a third on RCA. He also partook in an all-star live double-album with Blue Magic and Margie Joseph.

Background

Major Harris III was born February 9, 1947, in Richmond, Virginia. His grandparents performed in vaudeville. His father worked as a professional guitarist, and his mother led church choirs. Harris and his brother Joseph B. Jefferson learned guitar from their father. Jefferson later became a Philadelphia songwriter, while cousin Norman Harris became a guitarist, arranger, and producer.

As a teenager, Harris used his height to gain entry to Richmond clubs, where he watched touring performers. He sang locally with Little Tommy and the Teenagers, a group led by Tyrone Thomas that opened for Sam Cooke and Mary Wells. Harris later joined a post-hit lineup of the Jarmels, the Richmond vocal group behind “A Little Bit of Soap.” OKeh issued his first verified solo single, “Just Love Me,” in July 1968 (b/w “Loving You More”). Jackie Mills produced both sides, and Harris co-wrote the B-side with T. Toney and G. Bostic. OKeh followed in March 1969 with “Like a Rolling Stone” (b/w “Call Me Tomorrow”), arranged by James Carmichael.

In 1969, Jefferson formed Nat Turner Rebellion in Philadelphia with Harris and singers Ron Harper and Bill Spratley. The quartet cut the Jefferson composition “Tribute to a Slave” that year and later opened for the Delfonics. Stan Watson signed the group to Philly Groove Records in 1970, where they recorded further material at Sigma Sound Studios. Harris took the lead vocal on much of the recorded repertoire.

In April 1971, the Delfonics recruited Harris to replace Randy Cain after Cain curtailed stage appearances under medical orders. Harris joined William and Wilbert Hart in time for an April engagement at the Apollo Theatre in New York. The trio recorded Tell Me This Is a Dream and Alive & Kicking, with Harris taking prominent vocal parts on “Think It Over,” “Lying to Myself,” and “I Told You So.”

Harris left the Delfonics in 1974 and passed a solo audition for Philadelphia production company WMOT. Atlantic issued “Each Morning I Wake Up” in October 1974 (b/w “Just a Thing I Do”) under the Major Harris Boogie Blues Band name. Norman Harris arranged the A-side, while Bobby Eli produced and arranged the B-side. Atlantic scheduled the resulting My Way among the label releases for early 1975.

Discography:

My Way (1974)
Jealousy (1976)
Live! (1976 • Blue Magic / Major Harris / Margie Joseph)
How Do You Take Your Love (1978)
I Believe in Love (1984)

Sources:

Discogs: Major Harris

References and notes

Birth, family, guitar, teenage club activity: The Associated Press obituary quotes sister Catherine Thomas on the Richmond upbringing, guitarist father, choir-directing mother, and Harris entering clubs as a teenager because he appeared older. The Independent adds the vaudeville grandparents and states that Harris and Jefferson learned guitar from their father. (Legacy.com)
Early Richmond group: Richmond Magazine interviewed Tyrone Thomas, who specifically identifies his group as Little Tommy and the Teenagers and names Major Harris as a member. Thomas recalls opening shows for artists including Sam Cooke and Mary Wells. This is stronger evidence than later obituaries that identify the group as Frankie Lymon’s Teenagers. (Richmond Magazine)
OKeh singles: 45cat documents “Just Love Me” / “Loving You More” as OKeh 4-7314 in July 1968, with Jackie Mills producing and Harris among the B-side writers. It documents “Like a Rolling Stone” / “Call Me Tomorrow” as OKeh 4-7327 in March 1969, with Mills producing and James Carmichael arranging. (45cat)
Nat Turner Rebellion: Reservoir identifies the lineup as Joe Jefferson, Major Harris, Ron Harper, and Bill Spratley and dates the recording activity from 1969. Drexel and Shore Fire establish the Delfonics opening slot, Philly Groove connection, and Sigma Sound sessions. NPR identifies Harris as the quartet’s most frequent lead singer. (Reservoir Recordings)
Delfonics entry: A contemporary Cash Box item from April 1971 states that Harris replaced Randy Cain, explains Cain’s medical restriction on appearances, and identifies the Apollo Theatre engagement. This is much firmer than later biographies that vaguely date the change to the “early seventies.” (World Radio History)
WMOT and first Atlantic single: 45cat dates “Each Morning I Wake Up” / “Just a Thing I Do” to October 1974 and supplies the Major Harris Boogie Blues Band billing plus Norman Harris and Bobby Eli credits. Biographical accounts independently place the WMOT audition immediately after the Delfonics exit. (45cat)
Album date: Cash Box listed My Way among Atlantic/Atco albums scheduled for January and February 1975. The album entered Billboard’s R&B LP chart on March 8, 1975. I would therefore change the JRS discography entry from 1974 to 1975. (World Radio History)