Peppermint Harris

Who was Peppermint Harris?

Harrison D. Nelson Jr. known as Peppermint Harris, was an American rhythm and blues and jump blues singer and guitarist.

Originally from Texarkana, Texas, he first recorded in Houston, as Peppermint Nelson, in the late 1940s, accompanied by his friend Lightnin' Hopkins. He then made further recordings including "Raining In My Heart" for a record label run by Bob Shad, who allegedly forgot Nelson's name and released them as by Peppermint Harris.

In 1951 he moved to Modern Records in Los Angeles, California, and had his biggest R&B hit with "I Got Loaded", which reached number one on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart in November that year. However, later releases on various small Southern California labels were less successful.

He later recorded in Shreveport, Louisiana, and worked in Sacramento and New Jersey, before recording a final album on the Home Cooking label in 1995.

He died in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1999, at the age of 73.