Book Review: Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris by Andrea Swensson (2024)

The cover of Deeper Blues: the Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris, by Andrea Swensson, 2024.

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.