Harry “The Hipster” Gibson

Harry “the Hipster” Gibson, a talented if eccentric pianist/vocalist, had his short moment of popularity before fading into obscurity. He began playing on 52nd Road being a stride pianist and in 1944 also performed “Within a Mist” at an Eddie Condon City Hall concert. Nonetheless it was his crazy compositions (including “Who Place the Benzedrine in Mrs. Murphy’s Ovaltine,” “Handsome Harry the Hipster,” and “End That Dancin’ Up There”) and frantic performing style (predating rock and roll & roll by way of a 10 years) that provided him an underground popularity. Gibson’s definitive recordings had been designed for Musicraft in 1944 and 1947, and his uncommon showmanship was captured on several soundies through the period. Nevertheless, Gibson’s excessive medication use led to his quick drop after 1947. He do record a relatively demented Christmas record in 1974 plus some new music for Intensifying in 1986, but generally squandered his great potential.