Sir Harrison Begay, a familiar name in the blues scene, is a musician whose career spans over two decades, blending his Native American roots with a passion for soulful music. Despite his previous success as a video photojournalist, Harrison's true calling remained in the rhythm of the blues. Now, as he prepares for his induction into the in January 2025, Harrison reflects on a path filled with challenges, triumphs and the enduring power of music that has sustained him throughout the years.
Well known in Flagstaff for being the frontman of Sir Harrison and the Blues Kings, Harrison's musical career took off in 2002. His introduction to music, however, began at an early age. Harrison was born in Tuscon, Arizona, as a descendant of the Navajo Nation, or Diné. As the youngest of eight siblings, he was exposed to a variety of genres from his older brothers and sisters as well as his parents. From 70s and 80s R&B to the good old singing cowboys era, Harrison said he “fell in between,� being most drawn to soft rock at first. In junior high and high school, he entered a heavy metal phase, growing his hair long and swapping out his elementary school clarinet for a guitar along the way.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmxE H2D?’E F?E:= 96 DEF>3=65 24C@DD 2? @=5 3=F6D 42DD6EE6 E2A6 E92E w2CC:D@? 3682? E@ 72== :? =@G6 H:E9 E96 86?C6] pAAC64:2E:?8 :ED 5:G6CD6 DEJ=6[ 96 H2?E65 E@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE E96 D@F= 2?5 DECF4EFC6 369:?5 E9:D >FD:4] $@[ 96 6DD6?E:2==J 82G6 FA 962GJ >6E2= 2?5 DE2CE65 A=2J:?8 3=F6D[ 2?5 :E DEF4<]k^Am
kAmpE E9:D E:>6[ w2CC:D@? H2D DE:== 492D:?8 9:D 42C66C 2D 2 G:56@ A9@E@;@FC?2=:DE] w6 6?565 FA :? %F=D2[ ~<=29@>2[ 2?5 3F:=E FA 2 G6CJ DF446DD7F= 42C66C :? E96 ?6HD[ 62C?:?8 EH@ t5H2C5 #] |FCC@H pH2C5D[ 2 AC6DE:8:@FD 249:6G6>6?E E92E C64@8?:K6D =@42= 2?5 ?2E:@?2= ?6HD DE@C:6D @7 E649?:42= 6I46==6?46 2?5 9:89 4@>>F?:EJ :>A24E] !=2J:?8 >FD:4 H2D >@C6 @7 2 9@33J 7@C w2CC:D@?[ @?=J 7:?5:?8 E:>6 E@ A=2J 2E ?:89E 27E6C =@?8 D9:7ED]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E9@D6 6G6?:?8D[ w2CC:D@? 2?5 2 7C:6?5 @7 9:D 7C@> %6I2D H6C6 86EE:?8 C625J 7@C 2 ?:89E @FE] %96 7C:6?5 962C5 9:> A=2J:?8 2?5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ w2CC:D@?[ D2:5 E@ 9:> “vC23 J@FC 8F:E2C[ x�> 8@??2 E2<6 J@F D@>6H96C6]� $@ 96 E@@< 9:> E@ 9:D 7:CDE 3=F6D ;2>]k^Am
kAmâ€�%9:D H2D <:?5 @7 >J :?DA:C2E:@? E92E DE2CE65 6G6CJE9:?8] x H2D D@CE @7 DE2CDECF4< 3642FD6 x C62=:K65 :? E96 4C@H5 x DE2CE65 C64@8?:K:?8 A6@A=6 E92E H6C6 E@FC:?8 >FD:4:2?D E92E H6C6 2E E9:D ;2> D6DD:@?[â€� D2:5 w2CC:D@?] “xE H2D E92E D@F=7F= 4@??64E:@? x >256[ 2?5 E96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 6=56C=J 3=24< >FD:4:2?D E96C6 E92E :?DA:C65 >6] p?5 :E <:?5 @7 ;FDE :8?:E65 6G6CJE9:?8 282:?]â€k^Am
kAmuC@> E92E >@>6?E @?[ w2CC:D@? <?6H 96 H2?E65 E@ <66A AFCDF:?8 E9:D >FD:42= @FE=6E] w6 4@?E:?F65 E@ 2EE6?5 3=F6D ;2>D 2?5 A=2J 9:D >FD:4 2?5 DE2CE65 2 32?5 :? %F=D2 E92E H6?E 3J E96 ?2>6 r@=@C3=:?5] w2CC:D@? 4=2:>D 96 H2D 2 �>65:@4C6 A=2J6C� :? 4@>A2C:D@? E@ E96 A6@A=6 96 6?4@F?E6C65]k^Am
kAm“p =@E @7 :E H2D =62C?:?8 7C@> E96 ~<=29@>2 A=2J6CD 2?5 ;FDE E96:C A2DD:@? 2?5 <:?5 @7 <66A:?8 E92E 7:C6 =:E] p?5 x[ x 2=H2JD <6AE E92E 2E 962CE]â€k^Am
kAmpD 72C 2D E96 @E96C >6>36CD @7 9:D >FD:42= 8C@FA[ w2CC:D@? D2:5 96 H@F=5 C@E2E6 E9C@F89 5:776C6?E >FD:4:2?D] “x H2D 2=H2JD DA@:=65 7C@> E96 86E\8@[â€� 96 D2:5] “x 2=H2JD 925 AC@76DD:@?2= 32DD A=2J6CD :? >J 32?5[ 6G6CJH96C6 x H6?E]â€k^Am
kAm(96? E96 s:?é >FD:4:2? 6G6?EF2==J >@G65 324< E@ pC:K@?2 2?5 DE2CE65 E96 $:C w2CC:D@? 32?5[ 96 4@?E:?F65 E9:D >6E9@5] (9:=6 :? u=28DE277 96 >6E #:492C5 s] }6G:==6[ D@>6@?6 96 962C5 @7 H9:=6 :? ~<=29@>2 2?5 =2E6C 3642>6 8@@5 7C:6?5D H:E9] #:492C5 H2D 2 =@?8 E:>6 >2?286C 2E p+ |FD:4 !C@ :? u=28DE277[ 3FE 96 2=D@ 925 2 324<8C@F?5 A=2J:?8 32DD H:E9 D6G6C2= =686?52CJ >FD:4:2?D 2?5 32?5D :?4=F5:?8 ':?46 v:==[ !@4@[ |:4<6J v:==6J 2?5 >@C6] w6 H2D 2?@E96C E2=6?E65 A=2J6C[ E96 EJA6 E92E w2CC:D@? 8C2G:E2E65 E@H2C5D]k^Am
kAm“~?6 E9:?8 96 2=H2JD E@=5 >6[ 96 2=H2JD 36=:6G65 :? >6[� D2:5 w2CC:D@?] #:492C5 3642>6 @?6 @7 $:C w2CC:D@? q2?5’D 7:CDE A6C>2?6?E 32DD A=2J6CD 7@C 2 E:>6] “x H6?E E@ 2?@E96C pC:K@?2 q=F6D w2== @7 u2>6 32DD A=2J6C[ y:>>J |24<] x FD65 E@ 8@ 324< 2?5 7@CE9 36EH66? E96>[� w2CC:D@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm}@H w2CC:D@? FD6D EH@ @C E9C66 >2:? 32DD:DED 2?5 5CF>>6CD] %96J 2C6 2== 72>:=:2C H:E9 9:D >2E6C:2= D@ :E’D 62DJ E@ DH:E49 36EH66? E96>] x? *2C?6==[ H96C6 96 4FCC6?E=J C6D:56D[ :EVD 92C56C E@ 7:?5 2 D6E 32?5 2D 6G6CJ3@5J A=2JD 4@?DE2?E=J :? E96 >FD:4 D46?6 E96C6[ E9@F89 96 D2:5 E92E H@F=5 36 ?:46 E@ 92G6 @?6 52J]k^Am
kAmp=@?8 H:E9 36:?8 2 G@42=:DE 2?5 8F:E2C:DE[ w2CC:D@? 2=D@ HC:E6D 9:D @H? >FD:4] w@H6G6C[ 96 25>:ED 96’D 366? :? 2 3:E @7 2 D=F>A[ @C 766=:?8 �3C2:? 5625� 2D 96 42==65 :E] %96 r~'xs A2?56>:4 9:E 9:> 92C5[ 3@E9 >6?E2==J 2?5 7:?2?4:2==J[ 2?5 96 D92C65 E92E’D H92E 3FC?65 9:> @FE]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 E92E[ 9:D 32?5 H2D DE2CE:?8 E@ C646:G6 2 =@E @7 C64@8?:E:@?] %96J H@? 2 4@>A6E:E:@? 7@C E96 }@CE96C? pC:K@?2 q=F6D p==:2?46 E@ 8@ E@ |6>A9:D[ %6??6DD66[ 2?5 H96? E96J 8@E 324< E96J H6C6 86EE:?8 4@?DE2?E A9@?6 42==D 2?5 3@@<:?8 D9@HD[ 2D H6== 2D AC6A2C:?8 7@C 2 ?6H 2=3F> H9:49 w2CC:D@? A@FC65 2 AC6EEJ 967EJ 49F?< @7 42D9 :?E@]k^Am
kAm%96 A2?56>:4 AFE 2? 23CFAE 92=E E@ 2== @7 E92E[ 2?5 244@C5:?8 E@ w2CC:D@? :E â€�;FDE H6?E 5@H?9:== 7C@> E96C6]â€k^Am
kAm“~7 4@FCD6[ 6G6CJ@?6 DF776C65 7C@> :E] qFE J@F <?@H[ E@ >6 :E H2D 962CE3C62<:?8 3642FD6 >J >@>6?EF> H2D D@ 9:89] tG6CJE9:?8 xVG6 H@C<65 7@C :? E96 A2DE a_ J62CD H2D 364@>:?8 C62=]â€k^Am
kAmxE’D 366? 2 D=@H C64@G6CJ 7@C w2CC:D@? D:?46 E96?[ 3FE 27E6C C646:G:?8 E96 6I4:E:?8 ?6HD 23@FE 9:D :?5F4E:@? :?E@ E96 pC:K@?2 q=F6D w2== @7 u2>6 96’D 366? >@E:G2E65 E@ 86E 324< 2E :E]k^Am
kAm%96 pC:K@?2 q=F6D w2== @7 u2>6 :D 2 C64@8?:E:@? 2H2C5 E92E 9@?@CD E96 >FD:4:2?D[ 32?5D[ G6?F6D 2?5 :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 92G6 >256 D:8?:7:42?E 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E@ E96 q=F6D >FD:4 4F=EFC6 :? pC:K@?2] w2CC:D@? 92D 366? ?@>:?2E65 7@C E9:D 2H2C5 EH:46 367@C6[ 3FE E9:D J62C 96 7:?2==J 62C?65 9:D DA@E]k^Am
kAm“x 8@E E96 42==[ xE H2D 24EF2==J E96 H66<6?5 27E6C >J 3:CE952J] |J 3:CE952J H2D }@G6>36C ah] x <:?5 @7 H2D 3F>>65 @FE 3642FD6 x H2D?VE 23=6 E@ 8@ 9@>6 7@C %92?<D8:G:?8 E@ %F4D@?[� D2:5 w2CC:D@?] “x 8@E 2 42== E92E 6G6?:?8 7C@> @?6 @7 E96 Ww2== @7 u2>6X >6>36CD :? u=28DE277[ %@> |4|:==:2?]� pD 2 A6CD@?2= 7C:6?5[ w2CC:D@? D2:5 :E H2D ?:46 962C:?8 :E 7C@> %@> 2?5 E92E :E’D C6:?DA:C65 9:> 6G6C D:?46]k^Am
kAm“xVG6 366? ?@?\DE@A A=2J:?8 >J 8F:E2C 2?5 AC24E:4:?8[ 2?5 x 92G6 E9C66 D9@HD 4@>:?8 FA xV> D@ DE@<65 7@C[â€� 96 D2:5] â€�%96 6?6C8J 2?5 E96 6>@E:@?D 2C6 3F:=5:?8] p4EF2==J E96 @E96C >@C?:?8 x H2D D:EE:?8 5@H? 2?5 DE2CE65 HC:E:?8 2 ?6H D@?8 2?5 x H2D <:?5 @7 ;FDE =:<6[ ‘w6J[ x E9:?< E9:D :D 8@@5]’â€k^Am
kAm$:C w2CC:D@? q682J H:== 36 :?5F4E65 @? y2?F2CJ `h[ a_ad[ 2E %96 #9JE9> #@@> :? !9@6?:I] %96C6 H:== 36 2 D64@?5 46C6>@?J 96=5 =2E6C E9:D J62C :? !C6D4@EE 2D H6==]k^Am
The official press release sent to Sir Harrison announcing the news of his induction.
kAm%9:D 9@?@C :D H6== 56D6CG65 E@ w2CC:D@? 2?5 9:D 32?5[ H:E9 E96:C a_Z J62CD E@86E96C 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ E96 3=F6D 4@>>F?:EJ] $@>6 @7 E96 3:886DE 9:89=:89ED 92G6 366? E96 E:>6D @A6?:?8 FA 7@C 76==@H >FD:4:2?D H9@ 2C6 9:89=J C6?@H?65 2?5 :?DA:C2E:@?2= E@ w2CC:D@?]k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE @?6[ w2CC:D@? C642==65[ H2D H96? E96J @A6?65 FA 7@C #:49:6 w2G6?D 2E E96 %FD4@? u@=< u6DE:G2= :? a__b] %96 “uC665@>� D:?86C 24<?@H=65865 w2CC:D@? 2?5 9:D 8C@FA 7@C 2 ;@3 H6== 5@?6 2?5 E92?<65 E96> 7@C @A6?:?8 7@C 9:>[ D2:5 w2CC:D@?]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C >6>@C23=6 >@>6?E H2D H96? E96 32?5 H2D D6E E@ @A6? 2 D9@H :? x?5:2?2A@=:D 7@C $2> {2J[ 2 5:DE:?8F:D965 5CF>>6C 2?5 G@42=:DE] w2CC:D@? D2:5 {2J 962C5 9:> A=2J:?8 2?5 925 E96> ;@:? 9:> :? 9:D AC24E:46 C@@>] p7E6C E92E[ {2J 2D<65 E96 32?5 E@ ;@:? 9:> 7@C 9:D D6E 2?5 324< 9:> FA] “x H2D =:<6[ 9@H ECF6 42? x 86E E@ E96 3=F6D[â€� w2CC:D@? D2:5] “w6 92D A=2J65 H:E9 2== E96 8C62ED]â€k^Am
kAmw2CC:D@? 9@A6D E@ FD6 E96 >@E:G2E:@? 2?5 C64@8?:E:@? 7C@> E96 pC:K@?2 q=F6D w2== @7 u2>6 2H2C5 E@ 9:D 25G2?E286 2?5 ECJ E@ <:4<DE2CE E9:?8D 282:?] w6 5@6D?’E H2?E—@C ?665—E@ D=@H 5@H? J6E[ 2?5 9:D G@:46 766=D DEC@?8 2?5 96 H2?ED E@ <66A FA E96 >@>6?EF> 2?5 :?DA:C2E:@? 96 92D C6:8?:E65]k^Am
kAm“xâ€�> ;FDE 92AAJ 7@C E9:D C64@8?:E:@?[ 2?5 :E :D C62==J 962CE76=E] x 4@F=5?VE 92G6 5@?6 E9:D H:E9@FE E96 >FD:4:2?D x A=2J H:E9 2?5 E96JVC6 2D >F49 E@ 2EEC:3FE6 E@ H92E H6 5@[ J@F <?@H[ @FC D@F?5 :D @FC D@F?5[ @FC 8C@@G6 :D @FC 8C@@G6[â€� D92C65 w2CC:D@?] “qFE[ E2<:?8 E96 3=F6D E@ E96 ?6IE =6G6=[ E92E’D @FC 8@2=] $@ xV== <66A 5@:?8 E92E â€� 8:G6 :E >J ?F2?46 2?5 8:G6 :E >J DA:?[ H92E xVG6 =62C?65 E9C@F89@FE E96 J62CD] x H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ D92C6 >J D@F=7F= ;@FC?6J E9C@F89 >J >FD:4]â€k^Am
"Taking the blues to the next level, that’s our goal. So I'll keep doing that � give it my nuance and give it my spin, what I've learned throughout the years."
Courtesy
kAmk6>m$:C w2CC:D@? q682J’D >FD:4 2?5 FA4@>:?8 D9@HD 42? 36 7@F?5 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D:C92CC:D@?32?5]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm$:Cw2CC:D@?q2?5]4@>]k^2mk^6>mk^Am
