Sterling E. Harrison

This is Sterling Harrison whom Bill Jones put the E in his name. Sterling used to perform for Bill at his club's in Petersburg and Sterling had so much energy on stage that Bill started calling him Sterling E. Harrison with the (E) standing for Electrifying.

When Sterling was not on the road performing in New York, Nashville, Chicago, Vegas or Los Angeles he would come back to Richmond to skate the Kirby Carmichael session at Skateland.

Sterling Harrison passed away 2:50am Sunday August 21, 2005 after a long illness at Seven Hills Nursing Home .

The Home Going Service For Sterling E. Harrison

Was Held Saturday August 27, 2005

Moore Street Missionary Baptist Church

1408 W. Leigh Street

Richmond, VA. 23220

Click Here to See A Slideshow of Sterling E. Harrison's Funeral

Click here for Sterling E. Harrison's Obituary & Order of Service

Sterling in the skate room

Sterling At Skateland On Williamsburg Road

Sterling was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, and all he wanted to do from age 8 was be a singer.” The Richmond of the ’50s and ’60s was a key chitlin-circuit stop, and Sterling was “blessed to see everybody that was hot. Everybody came through Richmond — Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Johnny Taylor, Wilson Pickett, Millie Jackson. He saw ’em all, and performed with ’em all.”

Early on, Sterling Harrison entered talent contests, becoming a local Richmond fixture by the mid-’50s. “Two promoters, Allen Knight and Tom Mitchell, took him under their wing, and put me on all the big shows.

Sterling never smoked a cigarette, never got high, didn’t drink nothin’ stronger than cranberry juice. He felt that you don’t get a second chance to make that first impression. He always wanted to be ready. Sterling would say " you gotta be patient in this business, but it’s just as important to be ready.”

Like the song Sterling recorded that I played on WANT, he was always on his P's & Q's.

Hey Richmond let your mind take you back to where you've seen Sterling Harrison perform.

Ebony Island Club, Jamaica Country Club, The Mouse Trap, The Richmond Arena, The Pink Garter, The Kozy Cat, Gregory's Ball Room, Love and Union Hall , 24 South Union., The Darrius Club, The Bus Men's Club, Ranch House 33, Bug's Place, June German, Tantilla Gardens.

Listen To Sterling sing "Members Only"

Sterling Harrison's Music is available on CD's at local music store's

Richmond Times Dispatch STERLING HARRISON GUEST BOOK.

Kirby,

As I look back over the years, I think of Sterling as "Mr. Entertainer." He could sing, dance, tell jokes and imitate the stars like:

Moms Mabley

Johnnie Taylor

Al Green

Wilson Pickett

Michael Jackson

What I remember most about Sterling was his big smile and his love for people. He took photographs with major stars like: Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five and Lionel Richard.

Sterling loved his clothes and especially his shoes. Ben Miles and I visited Sterling in the nursing home about 4 weeks before his death. Harvey, Blue Wheeler and I, brought Sterling back to Richmond, Virginia from California to perform at the Hipollo Theater on 2nd Street in 1997, and he sold it out and turn it out.

Willie "Meatball" Poe

WENZ 1966-1971

poemba2910@aol.com

Kirby,
Sterling worked my "East Coast Opry " show twice with our
country band and the people loved him doing country music
and comedy as well as 50's music. We have had all kinds
of stars from Nashville none have entertained the audience
as well as Sterling did....I didn't know him but a couple of
years but I really liked him.

Big John Trimble

WCLM Radio

Hey Kirby,

I was just on the phone with someone who had mentioned to me that Sterling had died, and they
were trying to give me some background info when it dawned on me, "Kirby would have sent me what I needed if this were true", and sure enough, I went to my e-mail and everything I needed was already there.
I just want to thank you for your fervent and dedicated attention to detail and your efforts to keep us all informed and on top of all that goes on in our industry, more importantly the local stuff.
I spoke with Major Harris the other night, and we were just talking about some of the old cats and
Sterling's name was mentioned. I never met the man, but certainly, his presence in the music business was
felt even by those who never got the chance to see him perform.

Respectfully,

Mitch Malone of the Quite Storm

Magic 105.7 & 99.3