[5] Harris' family home became a popular jam session destination for young jazz musicians including Roland Hanna, Sonny Red, Donald Byrd, and Harold McKenny.

[8] Harris remained in Detroit through the 1950s and worked with Miles Davis, Sonny Stitt, and Thad Jones,[3] and substituted for Junior Mance in Gene Ammons' band.

[9] After moving to New York City, he worked as an educator and performed with Dexter Gordon, Illinois Jacquet, Yusef Lateef and Hank Mobley.

[10] Between 1965 and 1969, he worked extensively with Coleman Hawkins at the Village Vanguard[11] and he was one of the few musicians who continued to play bebop in Harlem during the shift toward jazz fusion in the late 1960s.

[18] Harris received an honorary doctorate from Northeastern University and a joint award with Oscar Peterson and Hank Jones from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

[6] Harris appeared in the 1989 documentary film Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (produced by Clint Eastwood's own production company), performing duets with Tommy Flanagan.