Profile of Wilbert Harrison on Famous Like Me

Wilbert Harrison (born January 5, 1929 – died October 26, 1994) was an American singer.

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Harrison had a Billboard No.1 record in 1959 with the song "Kansas City". The song was written in 1951 and was one of the first collaborations by the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. He recorded it for Bobby Robinson (record producer, label owner).

Harrison recorded for the Fire and Fury labels, which were owned and operated by Bobbie Robertson at his Harlem record shop. Harrison's records are especially notable for the presence of the brilliant guitarist Wild Jimmy Spruill, whose solo on "Kansas City" is one of the most memorable in the history of Rock & Roll.

After this success, Harrison continued to perform and record but it would be another ten years before he recorded "Let's Work Together" that made it on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1970, he had some success with "My Heart Is Yours". He toured for many years with a band known as "Wilbert Harrison and The Roamers" as well as a solo act.

Wilbert Harrison died in 1994 in a Spencer, North Carolina nursing home at the age of 65. In 2001, his recording of "Kansas City" was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. His recording has also been named as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

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