Les Harris, Jr
June 18, 1961 - October 6, 2025

Seacoast jazz musician and music educator Les Harris Jr. passed away peacefully at home on October 6th after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.

Les was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and was the son of the late, great jazz musician Les Harris Sr. and Janet (Banks) Harris. He grew up in Newburyport and began playing drums at a young age under the guidance of his father.

Les attended Newburyport High School, where he was active in music groups and proudly played on the Clipper football team. After graduating in 1979, he attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, following in his father’s footsteps as both student and teacher.

After earning his degree in Music Education in 1983, Les became the drummer for the jazz vocal group The Ritz, touring internationally and appearing on seven recordings. He also joined the trio led by legendary pianist Tommy Gallant, launching a lifelong career as both performer and educator.

In 1989, Les began teaching drums at Phillips Exeter Academy and the University of New Hampshire. He joined the University of Southern Maine faculty the following year. Over the next three decades, Les taught at UNH for 36 years, USM for 35 years, and at Phillips Exeter Academy’s Summer School program for 36 years. He had planned to continue teaching until his health declined.

Les also taught at Amesbury Middle School for twelve years and gave lessons through the after-school program at Cooperative Middle School in Stratham, New Hampshire, for seven years. He was deeply proud of his students and loved sharing his knowledge of drumming and music.

As a performer, Les spent 13 years with The Ritz, 15 years with Tommy Gallant, and nearly 20 years with Boston jazz legend Paul Broadnax. In recent years, he performed regularly with vocalists Donna Byrne, Debby Larkin, April Hall, and Chris Humphrey, as well as guitarist Gray Sargent, bassist Marshall Wood, and many other outstanding musicians throughout New England. He continued performing throughout his illness, right up until the final months of his life.

Music was a healing force for Les. Aside from spending time with family and friends, he was happiest on the bandstand behind his drums. Over his more than 50-year career, Les performed with some of the biggest names in jazz and was a top-call drummer throughout New England. He appeared on dozens of recordings, including several made after his diagnosis. These included All About Love with Donna Byrne and three albums for which he played and wrote all the lyrics: The Voice of Clark Terry, Volumes 1 and 2 with Chris Humphrey, and They Are All Lucky Days with Bronek Suchanek. His final recording, Good Vibes with Ed Saindon and Mark Carlsen, was released in the fall of 2025.

While music was central to Les’ life, his greatest joy was his family. He married the love of his life, Annie, in 1995, and in 1997 they welcomed their daughter, Aubrey. Aubrey attended Berklee on a full scholarship, becoming the third generation of the Harris family to do so. She is a successful musician in her own right, touring internationally with various pop acts, and remains Les’ pride and joy.

Les grew up with his parents and three sisters: Cynthia (Harris) Schulz, Debbie (Harris) Wood, Melissa (Harris) Moore. He was a beloved uncle to several nieces and nephews and was part of a large extended family that included many brother-in-laws and cousins. The continued love and support he received from family and friends during his illness helped him remain positive, active, and joyful as he lived life to the fullest.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to all the extended family members and friends who reached out and supported Les throughout his illness. Your love, concern, and care made a meaningful difference. Special thanks also go to the exceptional oncology team at the Center for Cancer Care at Exeter Hospital, whose medical expertise and kindness helped extend Les’ life and improve his quality of life following his diagnosis of stage IV cancer in August 2021.

The recordings of those concerts can be found here:
Les Harris, Jr. UNH/USM Retirement Celebration 9/13/2025:
https://youtu.be/c6lHHpC0AEk

In lieu of flowers, please go out and support local musicians and live music, and if you’d like to make a donation, please consider Exeter Hospital’s Beyond the Rainbow Fund, which directly benefits patients with cancer.