While the nearly three decades of trombonist and vocalist Joe Harris' career were filled with admirable service to jazz combos and orchestras, he would have done well to stay out of cars. In the late '30s he was out of action for more than a year after fracturing his skull in one crash and a later pile-up wound up finishing him off completely. His performing activities began at the age of 16 but remained on a low-key, part-time basis through the '20s despite the interest shown toward him by Jack Teagarden, a true great of the trombone in this genre. Eventually Harris would replace Teagarden in the band of Ben Pollack, riding the master's recommendations in the door. Prior to that he honed his chops in riverboat bands and in a combo Frankie Trumbauer led both in Chicago and on the road.