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Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris
The emotional, epic story of James “Cornbread” Harris—a self-proclaimed “blessed dude” and one of Minneapolis’s most influential musicians From the heart of the Minnesota blues comes the story of James “Cornbread” Harris Jr., the songwriter, pianist, and consummate bluesman whose seventy years making music helped to shape the Minneapolis Sound. “I am a blessed dude,” Cornbread tells Andrea Swensson, taking us along on his musical journey from a first “gig” entertaining his fellow soldiers during World War II to his subsequent years playing music for audiences across Minnesota. Following Cornbread’s extraordinary life story, Deeper Blues 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.
Cornbread’s career started in the 1950s, when he played with the Augie Garcia Quintet and cowrote their hit “Hi Ho Silver.” A tireless entertainer, he has been performing live ever since, influencing an entire generation of musicians credited with putting Minneapolis on the map in the 1980s—including his long-estranged son, Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James “Jimmy Jam” Harris III. Going beyond the music, Deeper Blues turns toward family, atonement, and peace when Cornbread reunites with Jimmy Jam after a five-decade separation and they perform together on stage.
Through conversations with Cornbread, Jimmy Jam, and many others, Swensson reveals a story of perseverance and unfailing grace, a firsthand account of making music in the face of racism and segregation, and a hard-won acceptance of the personal sacrifices that are often required when dedicating one’s life to making music. As the man himself says, “All of my hardships ended up to be blessings.”
A rich mix of present-day anecdotes and historical vignettes, animated by voices from Cornbread’s life and the Twin Cities music scene, underscored by the bluesman’s original lyrics of heartache and hope, and featuring never-before-seen photographs of Cornbread and Jimmy Jam, Deeper Blues tells a singular story—one imprinted on the history, heart, and soul of the Minneapolis Sound.
Cornbread’s career started in the 1950s, when he played with the Augie Garcia Quintet and cowrote their hit “Hi Ho Silver.” A tireless entertainer, he has been performing live ever since, influencing an entire generation of musicians credited with putting Minneapolis on the map in the 1980s—including his long-estranged son, Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James “Jimmy Jam” Harris III. Going beyond the music, Deeper Blues turns toward family, atonement, and peace when Cornbread reunites with Jimmy Jam after a five-decade separation and they perform together on stage.
Through conversations with Cornbread, Jimmy Jam, and many others, Swensson reveals a story of perseverance and unfailing grace, a firsthand account of making music in the face of racism and segregation, and a hard-won acceptance of the personal sacrifices that are often required when dedicating one’s life to making music. As the man himself says, “All of my hardships ended up to be blessings.”
A rich mix of present-day anecdotes and historical vignettes, animated by voices from Cornbread’s life and the Twin Cities music scene, underscored by the bluesman’s original lyrics of heartache and hope, and featuring never-before-seen photographs of Cornbread and Jimmy Jam, Deeper Blues tells a singular story—one imprinted on the history, heart, and soul of the Minneapolis Sound.
212 pages, Hardcover
Published August 12, 2024
5 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Swensson
12 books26 followersAndrea Swensson is an author, radio host, and music journalist. She hosts a weekly program about the Minnesota music scene, The Local Show, at Minnesota Public Radio’s 89.3 The Current and contributes to the Local Current Blog. Prior to joining MPR, she was the music editor at City Pages, where she founded the AAN AltWeekly Award-winning Gimme Noise music blog.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 20, 2025
Wow! Listen to this audiobook RIGHT NOW! Do you like music? Do you like Grandpas? Then this is the book for you!!! But you MUST do the audiobook. It’s more like a radio show with incredible interviews and beautiful clips of music. This was my favorite audiobook I listened to this year! And yes Cornbread Harris, you are a blessed dude!
March 21, 2025
Cornbread Harris is one of the treasures of Minnesota’s music scene. Cornbread has been entertaining audiences in the Twin Cities with his piano playing since the late 1940’s, and on April 23rd, he will turn 98 years old. Cornbread’s fascinating life story is told in the excellent 2024 book Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris. The book was written by Andrea Swensson, who began meeting weekly with Cornbread at his home in 2021 to discuss his life and career.
Cornbread Harris is one of those musicians who defies easy categorization. You can call his music blues, jazz, rock and roll, but the truth is that it’s a mixture of all of those things, plus more besides. Swensson deftly navigates the reader through Harris’s decades in the Twin Cities music scene. Her research into Harris’s life and career is thorough and comprehensive, and it’s fascinating to see how the tidbits she uncovers spark memories for Cornbread. Harris has many notable accomplishments in his long career. He played piano with the Augie Garcia Quintet on “Hi Ho Silver,” most likely the first rock and roll record made in Minnesota. The Augie Garcia Quintet was also the opening act for Elvis Presley at Presley’s first Minnesota concert appearance at the Saint Paul Auditorium in 1956. Garcia’s group was such a hit that Elvis’ manager Colonel Parker yanked them off the stage, afraid they might upstage Elvis.
Cornbread has seen his share of heartbreak in his personal life. Orphaned at the age of three, he was raised in several foster homes before living with his grandparents. Four of Cornbread’s marriages have ended in divorce. Cornbread is the father of one of the architects of the “Minneapolis Sound,” the songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam. Cornbread and Jimmy performed together when Jimmy was a teenager, but after Cornbread and Jimmy’s mom got divorced Cornbread and Jimmy were estranged for many years.
Deeper Blues examines Cornbread’s past, but it also tells the story of the present day. As Cornbread and Andrea are having weekly discussions about his life, Cornbread is also starting to reconnect with Jimmy. Andrea is able to connect Cornbread and Jimmy through Zoom calls, and she observes the two men reestablish their relationship. It doesn’t feel like a spoiler to mention that the emotional highlight of the story is when Jimmy joins Cornbread on stage in Minneapolis for Cornbread’s 95th birthday concert.
Cornbread has a sunny disposition, and his mantra is: “I am a blessed dude.” (p.9) He also tells Andrea: “All of my hardships ended up to be blessings.” (p.3) What a wonderful way to look at the world. Swensson has crafted a rich and vibrant portrait of Cornbread: piano player, songwriter, singer, entertainer, a truly remarkable musician and person.
One of my favorites quotes in the book is from Jimmy Jam: “People don’t remember the details of stuff. But what they do remember is how you made them feel.” (p.186) That is very true, and it’s a quote that I remember hearing for the first time when I was in school to get my teaching license. I tried my best to always make my students feel welcomed and respected.
Deeper Blues is about music, love, and the connection between a father and a son, with the uplifting message that it’s never too late to forge a new connection. It’s a beautiful message, and you will be blessed by spending some time with Cornbread and Jimmy.
Cornbread Harris is one of those musicians who defies easy categorization. You can call his music blues, jazz, rock and roll, but the truth is that it’s a mixture of all of those things, plus more besides. Swensson deftly navigates the reader through Harris’s decades in the Twin Cities music scene. Her research into Harris’s life and career is thorough and comprehensive, and it’s fascinating to see how the tidbits she uncovers spark memories for Cornbread. Harris has many notable accomplishments in his long career. He played piano with the Augie Garcia Quintet on “Hi Ho Silver,” most likely the first rock and roll record made in Minnesota. The Augie Garcia Quintet was also the opening act for Elvis Presley at Presley’s first Minnesota concert appearance at the Saint Paul Auditorium in 1956. Garcia’s group was such a hit that Elvis’ manager Colonel Parker yanked them off the stage, afraid they might upstage Elvis.
Cornbread has seen his share of heartbreak in his personal life. Orphaned at the age of three, he was raised in several foster homes before living with his grandparents. Four of Cornbread’s marriages have ended in divorce. Cornbread is the father of one of the architects of the “Minneapolis Sound,” the songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam. Cornbread and Jimmy performed together when Jimmy was a teenager, but after Cornbread and Jimmy’s mom got divorced Cornbread and Jimmy were estranged for many years.
Deeper Blues examines Cornbread’s past, but it also tells the story of the present day. As Cornbread and Andrea are having weekly discussions about his life, Cornbread is also starting to reconnect with Jimmy. Andrea is able to connect Cornbread and Jimmy through Zoom calls, and she observes the two men reestablish their relationship. It doesn’t feel like a spoiler to mention that the emotional highlight of the story is when Jimmy joins Cornbread on stage in Minneapolis for Cornbread’s 95th birthday concert.
Cornbread has a sunny disposition, and his mantra is: “I am a blessed dude.” (p.9) He also tells Andrea: “All of my hardships ended up to be blessings.” (p.3) What a wonderful way to look at the world. Swensson has crafted a rich and vibrant portrait of Cornbread: piano player, songwriter, singer, entertainer, a truly remarkable musician and person.
One of my favorites quotes in the book is from Jimmy Jam: “People don’t remember the details of stuff. But what they do remember is how you made them feel.” (p.186) That is very true, and it’s a quote that I remember hearing for the first time when I was in school to get my teaching license. I tried my best to always make my students feel welcomed and respected.
Deeper Blues is about music, love, and the connection between a father and a son, with the uplifting message that it’s never too late to forge a new connection. It’s a beautiful message, and you will be blessed by spending some time with Cornbread and Jimmy.
July 23, 2024
It’s apt that this book borrows its name from a song, since like many of the greatest songs it’s a collaboration. Not only is the remarkable story of Cornbread Harris finally told in its fullest form to date, the author deftly interweaves it with the story of the book’s creation — a story that takes a poignant turn when it comes to encompass Cornbread’s reunion with his son, a musical celebrity of the first order. This is a book of the first order, one that will make every reader feel like a blessed dude.
October 26, 2024
This biography of a 97 year old musician, who still plays every Sunday at Palmers Bar in Minneapolis is touching and heartwarming. Andrea Swensson is a local music journalist, who has written books on the Minneapolis sound, and Prince (she was one of the few journalists Prince trusted), and she wrote this wonderful book after spending countless hours with Cornbread, and tirelessly researching his past. This also made a reunion with his son, worldwide famous producer Jimmy Jam, happen after not speaking for decades. I love the emotion Andrea brought out of this time with him and how much that shines through in her words. It's so wonderful that these two souls were brought together, amazing things happened because of it.
June 18, 2025
A wonderful biography of a wonderful Minneapolis musician. In fact, this was unlike any biography I've ever read, as the book narrated the author's process in equal measure as it did the events of Cornbread's life, which is unusual. But it worked amazingly, especially since some pretty key moments in the biography happened in "real time" as Swensson was conducting interviews, and actually got to be a key figure in some of those developments. A really cool book written in a really cool way.
And by the way, if you want to see Cornbread, still jamming at 98 years young, you can catch him at Palmer's every Sunday at 5:00:
https://palmers-bar.com/?view=calenda...
And by the way, if you want to see Cornbread, still jamming at 98 years young, you can catch him at Palmer's every Sunday at 5:00:
https://palmers-bar.com/?view=calenda...
September 26, 2024
Such a cool book!! This book tells a story that has love, faith and forgiveness and its beautiful. I'd never heard of Cornbread Harris but I now know I would love to meet him. Cornbread was born to a pair of successful young people. Music was a thing that was passed on from his mother. Music is this talented man's life, love and means of communication with the world. It's a wonderful chronicle of a very full life. Written by my cousin, this is a book I really enjoyed and very highly recommend!!
August 28, 2024
One of the best biographies I've read in a very long time! Andrea Swensson masterfully captured the complex and rich life of Cornbread.
October 27, 2024
Great collaborative write of one of if not the most important musician in moms/st paul. Full of the wit and wisdom cornbread lives.
August 9, 2025
What a treasure. A legend captured in a very human & loving way. Beautiful.
November 22, 2025
Cornbread Harris is a gem. This was fun to read, having heard him play several times. I really liked how Swensson worked with him to help restore memories.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews