American trombonist, born 2 July 1920 in Salina, Kansas, and raised in Amarillo, Texas; died 21 January 2012.
After touring with Charlie Spivak 1944-1947, Harper settled in Hollywood, playing with Teddy Edwards' quintet and in the big bands of Benny Goodman 1947, Charlie Barnet 1948, Stan Kenton 1950 and Jerry Gray 1950-1952. In the mid-1950s he led own group, playing West Coast jazz and making records. From 1955 on, he was mainly active as a studio musician for NBC, but also recorded with jazz artists such as Benny Carter (1958), Bob Florence (intermittently 1955-1981).
United States· Salina