Don Sugarcane Harris

Don Sugarcane Harris

Source: MPS Schallplatten

Jazz fusion violinist, Don Sugarcane Harris (Don Francis Bowman Harris), also performed on guitar and organ. Born on 18 June of 1938 in Pasadena, CA, he studied classical violin as a youth as well as harmonica, piano and guitar. Harris began his career in doo wop R&B with Dewey Terry in the Squires, he using the name, Don Bowman. Based in Los Angeles, the Squires acquired Harris (Bowman) as a tenor and pianist. Terry was his most important musical associate during his early and late career. The Squires issued their first plate, 'Lucy Lou'/'A Dream Come True' (Kicks 1-F) in October 1954.

'A Dream Come True'   Don Harris w The Squires   Kicks 1-F A   1954

Composition: Chester Pipkin

'Lucy Lou'   Don Harris w The Squires   Kicks 1-F B   1954

Composition: Chester Pipkin

Harris and Terry released their first record as Don & Dewey in 1956 on Shade 1000X45 and 1000X78: 'Miss Sue'/'My Heart Is Aching'. Discographies don't use 9637 for cataloguing since it used the same on both the shellac and vinyl issues, being less precise.

'Miss Sue'   Don & Dewey   Shade 1000X78 A (9637)   Issued c Jan 1957

Composition: Harris / Terry

'My Heart Is Aching'   Don & Dewey   Shade 1000X45 B (9637)   Issued c Jan 1957

Composition: Harris / Terry

It was during the years that Harris and Dewey worked together that Harris began to get serious with electric violin:

'Slummin''   Don & Dewey   Spot 45-101-B issued Aug 1959

Composition: Harris / Terry

Harris contributed violin to John Lee Hooker's 'Folk Blues' in 1959, and would appear on a couple more Hooker albums in 1973 and '74. The Don & Dewey pair recorded numerously until their last in 1964: 'Get Your Hat'/'Annie Lee', the year they also joined Little Richard's backup band for a period.

Harris and Terry parting ways marks a second period in Harris' career until they reunite in the seventies with his recording career largely finished. RYM has Harris backing the Invictas, Tony Knight's Chessmen and Sonny & Cher toward issues in 1965. He performed on the 'Johnny Otis Show' in 1968 and '69. It was Otis who began to add "Sugarcane" to Harris' name. Harris emerged on Frank Zappa's album, 'Hot Rats' in 1969, then 'Burnt Weeny Sandwich' ('70) and 'Weasels Ripped My Flesh' ('70).

'Gumbo Variations'   Don Harris w Frank Zappa   Album: 'Hot Rats'

Recorded July-Aug 1969 in Los Angeles   Issued 15 Oct 1969 by Bizarre Records

Composition: Frank Zappa

Along with Zappa, Harris' most important musical associate during his highly productive middle career was John Mayall with whom he recorded several albums in the seventies. The first was 'USA Union' going down in July 1970 toward release in October:

'Crying'   Don Harris w John Mayall   Album: 'USA Union'

Recorded July 27/28 1970 in Los Angeles   Issued Oct 1970 by Polydor

Other personnel: Harvey Mandel (guitar)   Larry Taylor (bass)

Composition: John Mayall

'Keep On Driving" and 'Sugarcane' were Harris' first two solo albums in 1970.

'Keep On Driving'   Don Sugarcane Harris   Album: 'Keep On Driving'

Recorded Nov 17/18 1970 in Villingen, Germany

Issued 1970 in Germany, Japan and New Zealand

Other personnel: Electric Piano: John Taylor   Guitar: Volker Kriegel   Drums: Tony Oxley

Composition: Don Harris

In 1972 Harris formed the Pure Food and Drug Act with Victor Conte (bass), Paul Lagos (drums), Randy Resnick (guitar) and Harvey Mandel (guitar). The Drug Act issued one album in '72: 'Choice Cuts', Harris' fourth by then:

'Choice Cuts'   Album by the Pure Food and Drug Act   1972

Harris released his eighth of ten solo albums in 1974 called 'I'm On Your Case':

'I'm On Your Case'   Don Sugarcane Harris   Album: 'I'm On Your Case'   1974

Composition: Don Harris

Harris issued his ninth of ten solo albums in 1975 titled 'Keyzop':

'Keyzop'   Album by Don Sugarcane Harris   1975

Harris issued his last solo album in 1976 called 'Flashin' Time':

'The Willies'   Don Sugarcane Harris   From  'n' Time'   1976

Composition: Don Harris

Dave Laing (Guardian obit) has Harris reuniting with Terry in Los Angeles as early as 1975. Though his recording career wasn't over in terms of backing others like Billy Bang, Tupelo Chain Sex or Freddie Roulette, he ceased making records as he and Terry toured the oldies circuit, thought to include Europe to Harris' dislike. Laing attributes this long latter period of relatively horizontal creativity to drugs.

Harris appeared as late as 1998 on albums by CD Morris ('Shades of Country Blues') and Charles Wright ('Going to the Party'). Upon his death of pulmonary disease in Los Angeles on November 30 of 1999 [obit], Terry moved onward to work with other bands, also touring Europe, until his own death on May 11, 2003 [obit].