Harry Lamah Whitaker (September 19, 1942 – November 17, 2010) was an influential American jazz pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, and musical director known for blending jazz, funk, soul, and fusion. Born in Pensacola, Florida, he grew up in Detroit and began playing piano from a very young age. After moving to New York City in the early 1960s, he became a fixture on the downtown jazz scene, performing in clubs and touring with various bands.
Whitaker’s early career included gigs with rhythm & blues and rock groups, before he joined Roy Ayers Ubiquity (1970s), contributing keyboards and arrangements on seminal jazz-funk recordings and world tours. He went on to serve as musical director and arranger for Roberta Flack for nearly a decade, earning acclaim and commercial success, including gold records during his tenure.
Whitaker was celebrated for his sophisticated harmony and musical vision, fusing styles in ways that influenced later jazz and hip-hop sampling culture — notably some of his work has been popular among producers and appeared in soundtracks. Whitaker was a mainstay of New York jazz clubs into his later years and continued to record and perform until his passing in 2010.
Music
Black Renaissance: Body, Mind & Spirit (1976) — Cult classic jazz-fusion album; widely prized by collectors.
The Sound of Harry Whitaker (2002) — Piano jazz album.
Thoughts (Past and Present) (2007) — Recorded for the Smalls Records label.
One Who Sees All Things (2008) — Another piano-focused release on Smalls Records.