Joe Negri Collection, 1930-2014

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Joe Negri Collection
Creator
Negri, Joe
Collection Number
CAM.JNC.2014
Extent
16 Linear Feet
Date
1930-2014
Abstract
The Joe Negri Collection contains the original scores, notes, and sound recordings documenting Joe Negri's career from his earliest days performing with his brother, through his years at then Carnegie Tech, up to his current work as a jazz guitarist.
Language
English .
Author
Finding aid prepared by Kathryn Miller Haines.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Scope and Content Notes

The Joe Negri Collection consists of scores of Joe Negri's radio and TV jingles; scores written during his time at Carnegie Tech up to present day including "Beat 'em Bucs" the Pittsburgh Pirates fight song and works composed for "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood;" both published and unpublished sound recordings of Mr. Negri and others performing his songs; scripts and lyrics from the Beck's Charter Oaks shows performed with Don Brockett; published songbooks from a variety of composers; film scores Mr. Negri composed for WQED, WTAE and various private firms; and assorted programs and proposals for American music concerts.

Biography

From joenegri.com:

In 1999, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust honored me by naming me the "Established Artist of the Year." I remember telling them that my career has been a "work in progress" since age three.

As a child performer, I performed on radio and appeared in theatrical and stage productions throughout the tri-state area. I was even chosen to become one of Pittsburgh's "Stars of Tomorrow." A voice change shattered my confidence and I stopped performing. Shortly after, I began to seriously study the guitar.

By age sixteen, I was playing well enough to win a job with one of the country's top swing bands. I soon became a featured member of the band and traveled nationally with them for about two years. Though the army briefly sidetracked my career, it by no means stopped it. I was fortunate enough to meet up with several top-notch jazz musicians and together we continued to develop our musical skills.

In the early 50's, I enrolled at CMU (Carnegie Tech) and I picked up some important musical training and overall grooming. I feel very strongly that these years rounded me as a person and prepared me for the work that was still to come. Following CMU, I landed a job in the "brand new" media of television. It was the start of a forty-year career. My TV work began at KDKA-TV where I headed up my own trio and following that, I spent some twenty years at WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh's ABC affiliate) as an "on the air performer" and musical director.

Love and Marriage

It was during this time that I met, feel in love with, and married Joni Serafini. Shortly after that, Joni and I began to seriously consider moving to NYC even though my career was beginning to take shape here in Pittsburgh. New York City has always been the mecca for artist and music was no exception. The recording studios, the major radio stations, and major TV networks represented the "Holy Grail" of the music business in the middle of the last century. Our first daughter, Lisa, was born a few years after we were married. A year or so later, we decided that we should look into opportunities in the Big Apple!

We visited with several musician friends and we surveyed the music scene closely. Even though the opportunities seemed abundant, we chose to return to Pittsburgh. The thought of raising Lisa and a family in that environment discouraged any ideas of becoming a New York studio musician.

Life has a strange way of working things out. It came to pass that the studios were to undergo a revolutionary transformation. The 60's brought great changes to the recording industry and the TV studios. We have never regretted our decision to return to Pittsburgh.

Joe - The Guitarist

My current professional bio states that I'm one of the most recognized names in Pittsburgh music circles and perhaps one of the best jazz guitarists in the country. I started playing the guitar when I was eight years old.

As one wit remarked, "Joe Negri was playing the guitar long before it was fashionable." My life, in many ways, parallels the history of the jazz guitar. I grew up listening to and emulating guitarists like Charlie Christian, Les Paul, and Django Reinhart. I consider myself to be a part of the second wave of jazz guitarists that came into prominence after World War II. Some of my peers included Johnny Smith, Jimmy Raney, Wes Montgomery, Tal Farlow, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Joe Pass, and Kenny Burrell.

I'm known to millions of children for my appearances as "Handyman Negri" on the PBS show "Mister Rogers Neighborhood." That is a role I have played for over 30 years. As a composer, I have written music for many documentary film scores. In addition, my credits include The Crossing (scored for Brass Band and Jazz Trio).

I have just finished writing my first guitar method book. It is an introduction to improvisation entitled: "A Common Sense Approach to Guitar Improvisation." The book will be published by Mel Bay Publications and should be ready for release early in 2001.

And so, the "work in progress" moves on into the 21st century. I pray that the music continues and that I continue to write, teach, and perform as long as I am able to do so with style and grace...

Copyright

Mr. Negri's original compositions remain under copyright.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Kathryn Miller Haines during December 2014.

Acquisition Information

Joe Negri donated his collection of original scores, songbooks, memorabilia and recordings to the Center for American Music at the University of Pittsburgh in 1999. In the fall of 1999, the director of the Center, Dr. Deane Root, interviewed Mr. Negri about the collection to further clarify the contents. A transcript of this interview, as well as the original recording, have been added to the collection.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I. Original Compositions

Series II. Published Sheet Music

Series III. Songbooks

Series IV. Recordings

Series V. Compositions by Robert McCully

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Joe Negri Collection, 1930-2014, CAM.JNC.2014, Center for American Music, University of Pittsburgh

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • WQED (Television station : Pittsburgh, Pa.).
    • WTAE-TV (Television station : Pittsburgh, Pa.)

    Personal Names

    • Brockett, Don
    • McCully, Robert J.
    • Negri, Joe

    Genres

    • Sound recordings
    • Sheet music

    Other Subjects

    • Scores
    • Musicians -- United States
    • Music -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh

Container List