Joe Negri

Joseph Harold Negri (June 10, 1926 – May 30, 2026) was an American jazz guitarist and educator. He appeared as himself and as "Handyman Negri" in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe segments on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. where jazz guitar was first offered as a discipline in higher education. He taught for 46 years at Duquesne University, the inventor of major-thirds tuning. Negri and Patt recorded together in 1989.

In 2010 he recorded the album Fly Me to the Moon with Michael Feinstein

Joe Negri archives The Joe Negri archives consist of the collection of manuscripts, recordings, memorabilia, and original hand-written scores that document his life, work, and influence. The collection was donated by Negri in 1999 to the Center for American Music within the University Library System (ULS) at the University of Pittsburgh. The donation became the 1,000th collection at the ULS to have an electronically accessible finding aid (i.e., a guide that describes the contents of an archival collection and creator). The archives contains correspondence, commissioned commercial musical compositions, scores, recordings, and television archival footage. His donation also included his college coursework, compositions written for the River City Brass Band, television scores, commercial jingles, and film work. Companies that commissioned work from Negri included McDonald's, Alcoa, Kaufmann's, and Westinghouse.

Discography As leader Guitar, With Love (True Image Recordings, 1960) Afternoon in Rio (MCG Jazz, 1998) Guitars for Christmas (MCG Jazz, 2003) Uptown Elegance (MCG Jazz, 2004) with Buddy DeFranco Dream Dancing (Noteworthy Jazz, 2010)

As sideman Michael Feinstein, Fly Me to the Moon (DuckHole, 2010)

Other works A Common Sense Approach to Improvisation for Guitar (Mel Bay, 2002)