Nobody is going to be blue Friday, Aug. 16, when Andrea Swennsson launches her new book, “Deeper Blues, The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris,” about a living Minnesota legend, beloved blues musician and self-proclaimed “blessed dude.” Cornbread’s son, Emmy Award-winning songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam Harris, will join his father for the duo of “Cornbread and Jam” and there will be music from Cornbread and Friends.
A book signing will follow the 8 p.m. program at Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave.
, Mpls. James Samuel “Cornbread” Harris Sr. has been entertaining patrons in the Twin Cities with his piano playing and singing since the end of World War II.
He has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Minnesota Rock-Country Hall of Fame, an induction into the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame, and a Sally Award from the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. In 1955 he made history performing with the local Augie Garcia Quintet on the first rock ‘n’ roll record in Minnesota, “Hi Yo Silver,” and in the decades since he has performed thousands of shows at hundreds of venues across the metro area. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, known as Jam and Lewis, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002; the duo have written 41 Top 10 hits in the U.
S. and have more Billboard No. 1 hits than any other songwriting/production team.
Swennsson is an author, podcast host and music journalist who previously hosted “The Local Show” on Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current. Her publisher, University of Minnesota Press, describes her book this way: “Following the extraordinary life story of James ‘Cornbread Harris,’ (this is) a unique history of Minnesota music that evolves into a heartfelt tale of reconciliation and forgiveness, all to the tune of the legendary musician’s signature sound.” Made up of present-day anecdotes and historical vignettes, the book features never-before-seen photos of Cornbread and Jimmy Jam.
Tickets for Friday’s program are $30 in advance, $35 the day of the show. Tickets are at thecedar.org/events/andrea-swennssons-deeper-blues-f-cornbread-harris-jimmy-jam-friends .
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