Don "Sugarcane" Harris

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Don Harris (18 June 1938 - 30 November 1999) was an American rock and roll musician and electric violinist, name-checked in the inner sleeve of "Freak Out!" (1966), as part of Don & Dewey.

Biography

He studied classical violin at college and formed The Squires with Dewey Terry in 1954. He initially used the name Don Bowman, before reverting to "Don Harris" in 1957 when he became a duo with Dewey Terry as Don & Dewey. Between 1957 and 1959 Don & Dewey released several singles which never became hits. They split up and had a brief reunion as part of Little Richard's band in 1964. That same year Don & Dewey recorded a Beatles tribute with Larry Williams and Johnny "Guitar" Watson.

Harris toured with Johnny Otis in the late 1950s. Otis gave him the nickname "Sugarcane" and later Harris recorded for Otis' label Eldo in 1960. From halfway the decade on he recorded many sessions with John Mayall and Frank Zappa.

Zappa

"Sugarcane" provided (electric) violin and/or vocals for Zappa's records:

On 27 January 1980 Zappa was guest DJ on BBC Radio 1 during the Star Special, where he played Soul Motion by Don Harris.

See also

External links