The new Jet Harris album - THE JOURNEY - Available Now! Only £9.99 + p&p
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In the beginning
Terence 'Jet' Harris was born in Kingsbury, North London, the only son of Bill and Winifred Harris. The young Terence Harris was nicknamed 'Jet' by his school friends because of his ability at being one of the fastest runners in the school.
Jet left school at the age of fifteen and started work with his dad as an apprentice welder, making milk churns. The very first record that he took notice of was Winifred Atwell's 'Left Hand Boogie' in 1952. He was fascinated by the 'bass' sound on Winifred's left hand.
Jet was the first man in the UK to play electric bass guitar. News spread of Jet's outstanding ability with the bass guitar which soon led to him playing with various groups between 1956-1958, including Tony Crombie's Rockets, Terry Dene's Aces, The Vipers Skiffle Group, The Most Brothers and also Wee Willie Harris.
In between gigs, Jet used to frequent the now famous home of British Rock 'n' Roll, the 2 I's Coffee Bar in Old Compton Street, Soho. Apart from playing, he also served Cola and rumbaba's to customers.
With regard to Jet's musical talents, he is self-taught - his family couldn't afford formal music lessons.
When History is made
During the year of 1958, Jet was introduced to a young Cliff Richard, and was duly invited to join Cliff's backing group The Drifters, but due to an injunction by the American group of the same name, they had to choose a different name. History was made at The Six Bells pub near Ruislip, when Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch and Jet began discussing new names for the band. It was Jet that came up with the name 'The Shadows'.
The first hit record that Jet played bass on was 'High Class Baby', which reached number seven in the charts of 1958. 'Apache', of course, was the start of an era. Jet played on many Shadows records: 'Man of Mystery'; 'The Stranger'; 'Midnight'; '36-24-36'; 'The Savage'; 'Guitar Tango'; 'Nivram'; 'Peace Pipe' and 'FBI' to name but a few. He also helped write a few of the hits. The last recording Jet did with The Shadows was 'Wonderful Land' in 1962.
Jet left the band in the same year and had two hit singles in his own right: 'Besame Mucho' and the main title theme from the film 'The Man With The Golden Arm'
Now, however, is the start of his latest project, and something very special. Jet has teamed up with producer and world-class trumpet-player Nigel Hopkins, who also boasts a successful career as a solo artist and TV music writer/producer. This partnership is already proving very exciting and fruitful and, along with the help of some other key team members, their experience and passion is already generating some fantastic music. If you want to hear for yourself, you can preview the new single 'San Antonio' and 'Ignition'here. You can buy a signed Special signed and limited Edition of the instrumental version on Vinyl CD from www.jetharris.net and you can also download San Antonio and Ignition from itunes and most good download sites.
