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WHEREAS, Dr. Nelson E. Harrison is, among many things, a PhD in clinical psychology, educator, composer, archivist, lyricist and arranger, a world renowned musician for 62 years who has written over 300 original compositions in the styles of jazz, pop, fusion, rock, jingles, blues, ballads and children's songs; and,
WHEREAS, Dr. Harrison serves as an Executive Board Member of the American Jazz Caucus, Inc., Business Manager of the Afro-American Institute, Inc., Adjunct Professor of Psychology & Ethical Studies at Community College of Allegheny County, and founder/owner of the online Pittsburgh Jazz Network; and,
WHEREAS, among the many highlights of a storied musical career, Dr. Nelson has lyricized over 125 selected bop tunes by iconic composers, composed and performed the musical score for "Isis Au Noir" in 1971, produced an original taped score for the road-show version of the August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize winning "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" for the Kuntu Repertory Theatre in 1987, and had four of his compositions featured in the made-for-TV movie entitled "Stuck with Each Other" in 1989; and,
WHEREAS, he is cited in the Marquis publication Who's Who in the East (1979) and received the Renaissance Too Magazine Professional Men in Jazz Award (1989) and the East Liberty Hall of Fame (1991), the Westinghouse High School Hall of Fame (1995), Evolution of Jazz: Bridging the Gap Mentors Award (2006), the Walt Harper All That Jazz Award (2008), the Legacy Arts Project Keepers of the Flame Award (2008), the Build the Hill Award (2008) and the MCG Jazz Pittsburgh Legends of Jazz Award (2008), African American Council on the Arts Rob Penny Lifetime Achievement Award (2009), Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) Jazz Heroes Award (2015).; and,
WHEREAS, Dr. Harrison has played with a myriad array of musicians over the years, including James Brown, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Barry White, Bo Diddley, The Count Basie Orchestra, and t...
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