PITTSBURGH, PA—On May 30, jazz guitarist, Joe Negri passed away. He was 99. The legendary guitarist was born on June 10, 1926. He was less than two weeks shy of celebrating his 100th Birthday. According to Negri’s oldest daughter, Lisa, he died on Saturday of natural causes.

The young Joe Negri began playing musical instruments as a child. He’d wrap his tiny fingers around his ukulele at the local radio station. He was entertaining his listening audience at the tender age of three. He learned to play guitar at eight years old and toured with swing bands by the time he was 16.

As a member of Shep Fields and the Rippling Rhythm Orchestra, he toured nationally during 1943 until he joined the Army in 1944. He served in the U.S. Army for two years. Upon his return, he performed with his pianist, brother Bobby Negri in Pittsburgh.

Joe Negri enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University concentrating on music composition. He performed locally working with his brother and with another pianist, Johnny Costa, on KDKA TV.

In 1968, he appeared on WQED TV’s first episode alongside Fred Rogers in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Negri played the handyman at Negri’s Music Shop on various episodes until the show ended in 2001. A statement made on the website by the late Negri speaks volumes of his love for children.

“The handyman doesn’t just fix things. He also fixes problems. I hope children see me as someone they can trust.”

In the 1970s, Joe Negri began his teaching career at the University of Pittsburgh. He later founded the jazz guitar program at Duquesne University, retiring from Pittsburgh University in 2019, and Duquesne University three years later.

He not only taught jazz-guitar for 49 years, but he was also a big part of establishing the jazz guitar program at Duquesne University. He taught many talented students including Ralph Patt, who invented Major-Thirds Tuning in 1964. Negri and Patt later recorded together in 1989.

In 2010 Joe Negri and Michael Feinstein recorded the album Fly Me to the Moon and played their music live the following year at the Newport Jazz Festival. In September 2010, Rich Kienzle featured Joe Negri in Vintage Guitar magazine.

Joe Negri leaves behind his wife, Joan Negri, “Joni,” three daughters, and three granddaughters, whom he loved.