Corey Harris was born in Denver, Colorado to parents from Texas and Kentucky. He is a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and bandleader who has carved out his own niche in blues. He began his career as a New Orleans street singer, travelling throughout the southern U.S. In his early twenties he lived in Cameroon, West Africa for a year, an experience that has had a profound effect on his later work. Harris has recorded many songs of the blues tradition, adding his original vision of the blues by incorporating influences from reggae, soul, rock and West African music, keeping one foot in tradition and the other in contemporary experimentation.

 

He has performed, recorded, and toured with many of the top names in music such as B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Henry Butler, R.L. Burnside, John Jackson, Ali Farka Touré, Dave Matthews Band, Tracy Chapman, Olu Dara, Wilco, and Natalie Merchant. Harris was a featured artist and narrator of the Martin Scorsese film, Feel Like Going Home, which traced the evolution of blues from West Africa to the southern U.S. In 2007, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship—commonly referred to as a "genius award"—for his innovative and eclectic approach to music.

 

With his enduring dedication to pushing the boundaries of the blues, Corey Harris continues to create music that blends tradition and innovation. His albums serve as testaments to his unwavering artistry and the ever-evolving nature of his musical expression. Corey Harris will perform at UVA Wise with his four-piece band, featuring keys, drums, saxophone, and bass.

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This performance is brought to you in part by The University of Virginia's College at Wise and the Town of Wise.

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Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, for accessibility inquiries or general questions, call (276) 376-4520 or email contact@proartva.org. For weather related updates, patrons are encouraged to check proartva.org for real-time information.

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Pro-Art is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, and Mountain Empire Community College.

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