Doni Harvey  

Born October 15, 1950,  in San Francisco, California , died June 1. 2011, in San Francisco, California

  " As a child growing up in San Francisco, I was exposed and influenced by many different things socially, spiritually and musically.

        The music I heard at home was mostly jazz, some blues and occasionally some R&B. Some of the artists I heard were, my father Earl Harvey (who never performed professionally), Lou Rawls, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Eckstein, Billy Holiday, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Jimmy Witherspoon and many others.  Also there was the blues of B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, and Louis Jordan to name a few.  

        My fascination with music lead me to pick up the guitar at an early age and begin to try to pick out things that I heard on the records.  Having gone to church, mostly in California, has also had an effect on the music that I play.  We were taught to sing with crisp diction in order that all of the words could be understood, some of this can be heard in my music.  Then, there are the influences of classical music, reggae and world music, and all other forms of music. All of which I draw on to create and visualize the sounds and colors of my music.

      I was first trained in classical music on the clarinet.  Later I played cello for a short time but quickly went on to the bass violin because I felt drawn to this instrument. It was about then that I first played jazz while performing in a school talent show. I continued to play music throughout high school and college.  

       It was seeing and listening to Jimi Hendrix that really inspired me to pursue the guitar as another instrument to play and perform.  But, playing with artists such as my brothers Regi and Chris Harvey, as well as Stomu Yamashta, Clarence Clemons, Todd Cochran, Pat Thrall, and the Caribbean Allstars has helped me to define and develop my style.  

      I have always tried to push the envelope, meaning stretch the boundries and open the possibilities: in life and in music – sometimes successful, sometimes not.  I feel that I am still learning and will continue to learn the art of music and living.  For, to feel that you have learned all there is to know limits your expression, and the heights that you can reach."