Wilbert Harrison

Birth Name:

Wilbert Huntington Harrison

Birth Date:

January 5, 1929

Birth Place:

Charlotte, North Carolina

Death Date:

October 26, 1994

Place of Death:

Bethamy Retirement Center, 909 Salisbury Avenue, Spencer, North Carolina

Age:

Cause of Death:

Stroke

Cemetery Name:

North Pinewood Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Music

Wilbert Harrison, singer, songwriter and musician is known for recording the definitive version of “Kansas City,” one of the great rock and roll songs of all time. Released in 1959, it was #1 on the R&B charts for seven consecutive weeks and #1 on the pop charts for two weeks. Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, whose catalog of hits includes “Jailhouse Rock” and “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” the song was originally titled, “K.C. Lovin.'” Harrison’s limited chart success after Kansas City wasn’t due to not trying. Over the years he would cut nearly three dozen singles. He toured extensively with a backing band called “The Roamers”. In 1969 Harrison recorded “Let’s Work Together (Part 1),” which reached the pop chart. His last chart record was “My Heart Is Yours,” released in 1971. Kansas City was chosen by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, as one of the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. He died at age 65 in Spencer, NC without a dime to his name. Harrison was inducted posthumously into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001 for his 1959 recording of Kansas City.

Fun Fact

Wilbert Harrison was the son of James William and Nancy Grafton Harrison and was born in Charlotte, North Carolina 1 of 22 children. Wilbert spent his early childhood at 936 Oliver St. in Charlotte and when she wasn’t busy raising 22 children of her own, his mother also raised 25 foster children and died at age 90. Many of his family still live in the Charlotte area.

Canned Heat, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Bryan Ferry, Dwight Yoakam and dozens of other great musicians have recorded Wilbert Harrison’s songs.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

North Pinewood Cemetery

North Summit Avenue & Andrill Terrace

Charlotte, North Carolina, 28216

USA

North America

Grave Location:

Section A, Lot C, Grave 3

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery off Summit Road, stay to the left for 20 feet and park. Look for the Harrison upright marble monument and the talented musician Wilbert Harrison is buried just behind the marble memorial among his family just 30 feet from the road.