Joe Negri died on Saturday, May 30th - less than two weeks before his June 10th 100th birhday.
Joe Negri’s impact as a broadcaster, entertainer, educator and world class guitarist - and especially his uniquely kind and supportive approach to all is worthy of recognition and celebration.
On the program, we discuss Joe’s early days - and a connection to Fred and Gene Kelly that helped shape Joe’s life and career.
Joe was a veteran broadcaster, musician, performer and educator. He was also a board member of Pittsburgh Public Media - the non-profit that holds the license to and operates WZUM, the Pittsburgh Jazz Channel.
This hour will feature conversations with music writer Rich Kienzle about Joe’s formative years, including a visit to the family home by Gene Kelly and his brother Fred. Joe also favors a tune by Hugh Martin, who wrote a tune “The Boy Next Door” which may be about Fred Kelly and his later wife Dottie, - which allegedly takes inspiration form the address of the Kelly home at 7514 Kensington St (east of Frick Park).
We talk with broadcast legend Bill Hillgrove about Joe’s time on radio and television. Marty Ashby of MCG Jazz shares insights into getting the world class guitarist Joe Negri to be heard around the world. Plus, comments from Max Leake and many comments from Joe himself.
We have discovered one of Joe Negri’s earliest recordings from Armed Forces Radio with the Shep Fields Orchestra in 1943. We also hear music from the old Foster’s in Oakland with Joe and trumpeter Danny Conn - and Joe talks about them as the “Gemini Twins.”
Joe also wrote a lot of music - we will play more of it on the weekend, this hour we feature Max Leake playing a Joe Negri original, “Awaken.” We’ll finish with a highlight from the MCG Jazz release Guitars for Christmas - Joe sings “In the Happy Long Ago.”
Joe Negri and Scott Hanley - Fundraising at WDUQ, 2010
Here’s a wonderful profile of Joe by Rich Kienzle from 10 years ago in Vintage Guitar magazine. There will soon be another article from Rich about Joe in a future edition.
Look below for a number of great treats about Joe Negri, his music and his career! Also, go here for comments presented by WZUM’s Chuck Leavens when Joe received the Outstanding Achievement in Media Award from the Media Association of Pittsburgh.
Join us as we pay tribute to kind and genuine man who was a phenomenal artist - Joe Negri.
The Scene - Thursday at 6pm, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday afternoon at 5.
In 2010, Joe Negri stopped by the "new" studios WDUQ moved into before the sale of the station - the location used to be the headquarters for Musicians Union Local #60-471
The story of how Joe and Bobby Negri met Gene and Fred Kelly in Pittsburgh
Joe Negri plays jazz in the WQEX TV studio with brother Bobby on piano, Danny Conn on trumpet, Don Aliquo on sax, Roger Ryan on drums, and Dave LaRocca on bass.
Joe Negri’s first Album - with Liner notes by David Crantz of WTAE TV (and later, Exec Director of the Pittsburgh Radio Organization)
Shep Fields - December 1943 with a 17 year old Joe Negri on guitar (not in the image)