He is a music graduate of Southern University (B.S.) and Louisiana State University (M.M) with further study at Washington University and North Texas State University. His training in music composition also includes private study with William S. Fisher in New York and the late Oliver Nelson in Los Angeles.

His professional experience started when he was an undergraduate college student and worked as a trumpeter and band leader of the “Brothers of Sound” in Louisiana. His career as a music educator spans from his service as band director and music instructor at Dawson High School, St. Francisville, Louisiana, 1963; Southern University Laboratory School, Baton Rouge, 1969; Delaware State College, Dover, Delaware, 1970; and Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas 1971 through the present where he holds the position of Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies.

Some of his former students include Kirk Whalum, Richard Lee, Barry Hall, Kim Wade, Horace Young, III, and Anita Moore. Among his outstanding accomplishments at Texas Southern University is his work with the TSU Jazz Ensemble, winner of virtually every major collegiate competitive jazz festival in the United States including events held at Notre Dame, Wichita, Mobile, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

His public service activities and memberships include being Founder and Executive Director of The Peoples’ Workshop for the Visual and Performing Arts of Houston as well as a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (honorary member), the International Association ofJazz Educators (IAJE), Music Educators National Conference (MENC), and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).

arris' writings are diverse in scope. He has served as contributing editor and published lecturer of the NAJE Papers, Jazz Spotlight News, and the Houston Defender Newspaper. His works as author and composer include: 'The Complete Book of Improvisation/Composition and Funk Techniques', co- authored by William Fielder of Rutgers University and with former Texas Southern University Fine Arts Department Chair- man Joseph Schmoll, he is co-author of the book, 'Music in the Humanities', (Minneapolis: Burgess Publishing Company, 1983)

His musical writings span jazz, popular, and classical music idioms. Among his published pieces for Jazz Ensemble are Black Roots, Passion 15, and Jazz Memorabilia. Other works for orchestra include Folk Psalm’ and Ап American Music Tree, performed by the Fort Worth, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Houston Symphony Orchestras

Related Information

Works by Howard C. Harris Jr.