Cornbread Harris, born James Samuel Harris Jr., is what most would call a “best kept secret.” But Cornbread is 97 years old and there isn’t much time left for people to discover him while he’s still performing.

To tell his story, music journalist and former DJ for The Current Andrea Swensson talked with Harris’ friends, family members and musical collaborators. Swensson collected every piece of information she could find on Harris’ music career for her newest book, “Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris.” The book shares its name with one of Cornbread’s songs.

“Change your mind, apologize, tell me you didn’t realize/but if there are some changes/make him pay his dues/you’ll find out if he loves you/teach him the deeper blues,” Cornbread croons on a recent recording of “Deeper Blues.”

Cornbread, a songwriter, singer, and pianist, was a credited songwriter and performer on Minnesota’s first rock ‘n’ roll record, Augie Garcia Quintet’s 1955 “Hi Ho Silver.” He contributed to the Minneapolis Sound through his early involvement in Minneapolis blues, R&B, and rock. And he’s an accomplished gig musician. Harris estimates that he's played hundreds if not thousands of shows at the now-shuttered Nikki's Cafe and Loring Bar alone.

Cornbread, who picked up his nickname in the 1960s when he debuted his song, “The Cornbread Song,” is still playing at Palmer’s Bar every Sunday and, until recently, was playing brunch at Icehouse regularly. What continues to draw crowds is not only his piano playing and collaboration with local musicians, but his free-spirited performance style.

Cornbread is a “heartfelt, charming, endlessly entertaining live performer,” as described by Swensson in “Deeper Blues.”

To get at Cornbread’s long history in the Twin Cities music scene, Swensson relied on archival research and recollections of Cornbread’s faltering memories. In the process,  she got heavily involved in Cornbread’s personal life, which changed the trajectory of the book’s narrative.

What sets this book apart from other musician biographies is the interpersonal narrative of Swensson bringing Cornbread closer to his formerly-estranged son, James Harris III, known publicly as Jimmy Jam. It was only a few years ago that the two reconnected.

Turns out, their reunion was largely thanks to Swensson.

Cornbread and Jimmy, also once bandmates, did not talk for 24 years. When Swensson reached out to Jimmy about something unrelated in May 2021, he asked about his dad. Swensson was able to connect the father and son through Chris Mozena of Hook & Ladder when Jimmy was in town from Los Angeles.

Swensson first met Cornbread at The Current in 2017. She started working on “Deeper Blues” in June 2021 and finished it last summer. During the book’s production, a lot of communication between Cornbread and Jimmy happened through Swensson.

Many pages of “Deeper Blues” are dedicated to Cornbread and Jimmy’s growing relationship as adults.​ Throughout the book, Swensson documents the numerous Zoom calls that she has facilitated between Cornbread and Jimmy during her Tuesday visits with Cornbread, which started with the book and still continue today.

“Deeper Blues” gives readers insight into Cornbread and Jimmy’s relationship when Jimmy was a child and how they communicate as adults. Swensson depicts Cornbread as excited when talking about and with his son.

“Anytime Cornbread ran out of things to talk about, he would quickly scan around the room to find something else he could to fill the time and keep the call with Jimmy going,” Swensson writes about the Zoom call they shared after the two played music together for Cornbread's 95th birthday.

The first-person approach is taken throughout the book, whether Cornbread is talking to Swensson about playing on Minnesota’s first rock n’ roll record or when he received  an extra large tub of Taster’s Choice for Christmas from his nephew Renee.  

“I tried to write the book from a different vantage point, more like a typical biography,” Swensson said from Cornbread’s dining room when I visited them during a Tuesday visit in July. “It's really a collaboration between the two of us, and it's very personal. So it really just only made sense to me to write it from that vantage point.”

While the book is largely about Cornbread’s life, Swensson says the book reflects a deeper human element.

“You get into a place in life where you're ready to make amends, and go through a period of reconciliation with someone that's really important to you.” Swensson said. “I know it’s really important to both Jimmy and Cornbread that their story is heard, because it has changed their lives. It's changed my life.”  

Cornbread sounds joyful when talking about “Deeper Blues,” listing all the people who talked to Swensson, almost in disbelief that someone would go to the trouble.

“I found out more about me than I knew,” Cornbread said about the book.

When things get serious, Cornbread is quick to make a joke or say something silly. He shooed away Swensson’s compliments as she described her time with Cornbread as a life-changing experience.

“I can’t hear no words like ‘wonderful’ and ‘very nice.’ What in the world is going on over there?” Cornbread interjected.

“As you can see, he’s a very serious person,” Swensson responded.  

His sense of humor, joy, and gratefulness is depicted throughout Swensson’s book, most often through Cornbread’s unofficial tagline, “I’m a blessed dude.”  

“I haven't done – that I know of – anything to deserve all of His blessings,” Cornbread said during my visit to his house. “Aha, blessed dude. There it is.”  

As for how he feels about Swensson writing a book about him? He answered “fantastic” and turned around and played a rendition of “Deeper Blues.”

‍A sold-out book launch for “Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris” will be held on Aug. 16 at The Cedar Cultural Center, featuring the music of Cornbread Harris, Jimmy Jam, and friends. Andrea Swensson will also be at Magers & Quinn on Sept. 25. "Deeper Blues" is on sale now.