Rufus Harley was born on May 20, 1936 in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Pipes of Peace (2008), You're a Big Boy Now (1966) and Eddie and the Cruisers (1983). He was married to Barbara Jean Jones. He died on August 1, 2006 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Performing in both an African dashiki and a Scottish kilt
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McLeod Tartan
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Fact
1
He liked to promote Philadelphia by giving away miniature Liberty Bells and copies of the US Constitution.
2
Inspired to learn to play the bagpipes after seeing the Black Watch's performance at the 1963 funeral of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
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Survived by 16 children and 15 grandchildren.
4
Was of mixed Cherokee and African-American descent.
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Made his bagpipe debut in 1964.
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Adapted the bagpipes to jazz, blues, funk and other typically African-American music styles, while still paying tribute to the instrument's Scottish roots.
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Whenever a neighbor called the police to complain about his practicing in his apartment, he would put away his bagpipes and ask the officer, "Do I look like I'm Scottish to you?"
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After seeing him perform on television, a Scottish family gave him their tartan, the McLeod tartan, which he wore for the rest of his life.
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Frequently gave music presentations in Philadelphia-area public schools.
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Lived most much of his life in the Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Performed frequently with one of his sons, Messiah Patton Harley, a jazz trumpeter.
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He had 16 children and 15 grandchildren.
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Proficient on the oboe and the saxophone, Rufus Harley is best known as the only jazz bagpiper in the known world to date (2006); he has played with John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Laurie Anderson and The Roots.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Eddie and the Cruisers
1983
Wendell's Replacement #2
You're a Big Boy Now
1966
Barbara's Stage Play Crew
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Pipes of Peace
2008
Documentary
Who Is Rufus Harley: An Hour of Television and Documentary Footage
2006
Video
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Pipes of Peace
2008
Documentary
Himself
Who Is Rufus Harley: An Hour of Television and Documentary Footage
2006
Video
Himself - Interviewee / Musician
The David Frost Show
1969
TV Series
Himself
I've Got a Secret
1966
TV Series
Contestant
Known for movies
Pipes of Peace (2008) as Composer
You're a Big Boy Now (1966) as Barbara's Stage Play Crew
Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) as Wendell's Replacement #2
Who Is Rufus Harley: An Hour of Television and Documentary Footage (2006) as Composer
$700,000
