Wee Willie Harris (Charles William Harris)
(1933-2023), SingerSitter in 11 portraits
Born Charles William Harris, he began his musical career playing at the 2i's club in Soho. As resident piano player Harris performed alongside Adam Faith, Tommy Steele and others and was given the nickname Wee Willie Harris due to his small stature. In 1957 he appeared on the BBC show Six-Five Special and released his first single, 'Rockin' at the 2i's'. His energetic live performances and brightly coloured dyed hair gained him popularity. In 1979 he was mentioned in Ian Dury's song 'Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3.'
Wee Willie Harris with his mother
by Bob Collins
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1950s
NPG x136329
Wee Willie Harris with his mother
by Bob Collins
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1950s
NPG x136341
Paul Lincoln (James McDonald Lincoln); Wee Willie Harris; Peter ('Pete') Murray (Peter Murray James)
by Bob Collins
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1950s
NPG x136342
Pete Murray; Paul Lincoln; Wee Willie Harris
by Bob Collins
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1950s
NPG x136343
Wee Willie Harris with his mother
by Bob Collins
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1950s
NPG x136433
Wee Willie Harris (Charles William Harris)
by Harry Hammond
bromide fibre print, 1958
NPG x15534
by Bob Collins
2 1/4 inch square transparency, circa 1958
NPG x136324
by Bob Collins
2 1/4 inch square transparency, circa 1958
NPG x136325
by Bob Collins
2 1/4 inch square transparency, circa 1958
NPG x136326
by Bob Collins
2 1/4 inch square transparency, circa 1958
NPG x136730
by Bob Collins
bromide fibre print, 1958
NPG x35151
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Sally Wade
10 August 2021, 22:02
I often see wee willie Harris in Sutton, Surrey. Saw him the other day and he sang to me. He's still performing and telling jokes. Lively as ever.
MICHAEL CASTLEMAN
20 October 2022, 10:58
from the age of eleven i lived in bermondsey where my mother owned a hairdresser's salon in southwark park rd. directly outside there was a bus stop (no. 1) and i would often see him waiting for the bus with his orange hair dressed in drapes drainpipe trousers boot lace tie as a youngster it was like seeing someone from outer space he had some front catching the bus like that i think i may have seen him on stage at a club in depford i certainly saw screaming lord sutch there today you would not look twice at someone dressed in this manner long live 'wee willie'