Joe Negri

Joe Negri
Negri performing with Carnegie Mellon University in 2007
Negri performing with Carnegie
Mellon University in 2007
Background information
Birth nameJoseph Harold Negri
Born (1926-06-10) June 10, 1926 (age 98)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupations
  • Musician
  • educator
  • actor
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1929–present

Joseph Harold Negri (born June 10, 1926) is an American jazz guitarist and educator.[1] He appeared as himself and as "Handyman Negri" in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe segments on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.[1] He appeared on the 1959 children's television program Adventure Time and with Johnny Costa on the 1954 TV series 67 Melody Lane hosted by Ken Griffin.

Negri taught jazz guitar for 49 years at the University of Pittsburgh,[2] where jazz guitar was first offered as a discipline in higher education.[3][4] He taught for 46 years at Duquesne University,[1][3] as well as at Carnegie Mellon University.

  1. ^ a b c Rose, Joel (August 9, 2010). "Joe Negri: From handyman to jazz guitarist". All Things Considered. NPR, National Public Radio. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  2. ^ Harrop, JoAnne Klimovich (April 25, 2019). "Iconic Pittsburgh musician Joe Negri retires from Pitt". Pittsburgh Triune-Review. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Kirkland, Kevin (April 26, 2019). "Joe Negri retires from teaching at Pitt. But he's not putting away his guitar". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  4. ^ Iconic Pittsburgh musician Joe Negri (MP4). TribLive.com. April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.