Harry Whitaker is a piano player, producer and arranger born in Pensacola, Florida (September 19, 1942) who began playing piano at age 5. He grew up in Detroit, soaking up the bluesy sensibility of Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan, and Hank Jones - legends who remain his idols today, along with Ahmad Jamal, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Billie Holiday. Harry moved to New York City in 1961, playing nights and weekends until his first long-term gig (1965-1970), with R&B star Lloyd Price.

He landed various road jobs, including stints with Eugene McDaniel, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. He spent four years with vibist Roy Ayers in the Funk/Fusion group "Ubiquity," playing organ, piano, harpsichord, electric piano, and synthesizers, creating music that regularly attracts the hip-hop samplers of today. Next he became Roberta Flack's musical director, a position he held for nine years. Since then, he's worked with such artists as Stephanie Mills, Carmen Lundy, Gary Bartz, and Phyllis Hyman, while director Quentin Tarantino featured his music in the film "Jackie Brown." All told, Harry has played on at least 25 albums, his first as leader "The Sound of Harry Whitaker" (2001) on Fresh Sound Records.

During his later years, he recorded two more jazz piano albums for Smalls Record label. He frequently played at New York City jazz clubs, such as Smalls, Fat Cat and Arturo’s (where he had a weekly gig). Harry Whitaker died on November 17, 2010.

Judith Schlesinger / Lee Mergner, from JazzTimes