Harper was born in Utah. He spent a few hears living in Germany with his family before moving back to Utah for middle and high school. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany. Harper earned an associate's degree from Utah Valley State College and then transferred to Brigham Young University. He was employed as a reading teacher at Cascade Elementary School in Orem, Utah for a short time.
From the description of Jose do you see, by the dawn's early light? : an examination of elementary school playground songs, 2004. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367700119