William Godvin "Beaver" Harris (April 20, 1936 – December 22, 1991)[1] was an American jazz drummer who worked extensively with Archie Shepp.
Coming from an athletic family, he played baseball as a teenager for the Kansas City Monarchs (then part of the Negro American League) and was scouted by the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants.
In 1963, he moved to New York City and was encouraged to pursue a musical career by Max Roach.
While in New York, he worked and/or toured with Marion Brown, Dexter Gordon, Albert Ayler, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Jordan, Howard Johnson, Sheila Jordan, Lee Konitz, Thelonious Monk, Roswell Rudd, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner,[3] Sonny Stitt, Clark Terry, Chet Baker, Doc Cheatham and Larry Coryell among other musicians.
[4] With Albert Ayler With Marion Brown With Roswell Rudd With Archie Shepp With others