Jerry Harrison

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Jerry Harrison
close-up of Jerry Harrison wearing a dark sleeveless top, looking left of camera with a set facial expression
Harrison in 2023
Background information
Birth nameJeremiah Griffin Harrison
Born (1949-02-21) February 21, 1949 (age 75)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Genres
  • New wave
  • proto-punk
  • post-punk
  • art rock
  • pop
  • rock
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • bass
Years active1971–present
LabelsEMI, Sire/Warner Bros.
Formerly ofThe Modern Lovers, Talking Heads

Jerry Harrison (born February 21, 1949) is an American musician, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur. He began his professional music career as a member of the band the Modern Lovers, before becoming keyboardist and guitarist for Talking Heads in 1977. In 2002, Harrison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Talking Heads.

After Talking Heads disbanded in 1991, Harrison focused more on producing other bands, a role he started while still with Talking Heads, first producing the album Milwaukee with Elliott Murphy, and then later working with Violent Femmes on their third album, The Blind Leading the Naked, in 1986.

During the 1990s, he produced a number of hit albums for bands such as Live, The Verve Pipe, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd among others. He has also released three albums of solo music (all while Talking Heads were still active) and has participated in a number of partial reunions of Talking Heads. In 1999, he helped found the online music community GarageBand.com.


Early life and education

Career

In 1971, Harrison was living an apartment with Ernie Brooks while both were attending Harvard. The two were both performing as part of an iteration of The Modern Lovers after members Rolfe Anderson and John Felice had left the project.[1]

Discography

Harrison has played on nearly all releases by Talking Heads, with the exception of early recordings in 1975 and 1976.

He also notably played on The Modern Lovers before joining Talking Heads.

  1. Moss, Charles. “50 Years Ago, New York City’s Punk Scene Was Born.” SPIN, 8 July 2024, www.spin.com/2024/07/50-years-ago-new-york-citys-punk-scene-was-born/. Accessed 11 July 2024.