Harper, Billy

Born in Houston in 1943, Billy Harper grew up in a musical, religious family and played saxophone at school. He began singing at the age of 3; mimicking Ella Fitzgerald. Mr. Harper studied at North Texas State which was renowned for its music department. There he frequently practiced 8 hours per day. While in Denton, he collaborated with David "Fathead" Neuman, Dewey Redman, and Julius Hemphill. During graduate school, Mr. Harper left for New York where he worked with Gil Evans and Art Blakely prior to organizing his own quartet.

From the guide to the Billy Harper Collection MSS 376., 1943 to 1989, (Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library)