Walter Eugene Harper (July 3, 1926 – October 25, 2006) was an American jazz pianist and influential nightclub owner.
He attended Schenley High School, as did two of his best friends who became musical giants in the jazz world, bassist Ray Brown and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine.
As teenagers, Harper and Brown would often venture across town to jazz musician Erroll Garner's house to watch him play piano.
Early on he gained the nickname "The Prom King" because his band played so many high school and college dates.
After several years of touring, Harper consciously opted for a different lifestyle, and he decided to build his musical career on his home turf of Pittsburgh.