Vaughn Harper Remembered — A Personal Reflection

VAUGHN HARPER – RADIO’S BELOVED GENTLE GIANT

Vaughn’s character as a person was impeccable . He was a Friend to many and an older Sibling to some.

His million dollar smile and infectious laugh was always an automatic mood warmer, and of course the deep baritone velvet voice grabbed your immediate attention.

From the start of my career as a NY/NJ Metro area Retail Store Merchandiser, Vaughn entered into my life as a protective “Big Brother”.from his longtime friendship with my Industry Godmother… The late  Mommy “Mike “Bernardo.

Rising through the ranks of the Industry, I realized that even though WHUR/DC and the late Melvin Lindsey gave birth to the “Quiet Storm” night program on the UAC format.

Vaughn made it a Household name.

He often held conversations with the Homeless, The lowest on the totem pole in the corporate world as well as the senior executives and still ……he treated everyone the same.

The Relationships Vaughn shared with Artists, Co-Workers, His Listening Audience and the Industry Comrades were all priceless and lovingly memorable.

“Big Brother” taught the Record Companies how to make the most of Radio Play from “LP Cuts” to sell more CD’s and also started Live Night Time On Air Artist Performances in the studio.

He was not only responsible for placing the efforts together that led to Columbia/Sony Music signing Regina Belle to a Artist Contract but he also Co-Produced and Hosted the Wedding Promotion that introduced the song that became the first Grammy Award for the Late Luther Vandross, titled, “Here And Now”.

As we all know… If there was a good medium tempo or ballad that found its way to Vaughn’s ears while he was on the Air, he played a major role in the success of that project.

VAUGHN HARPER……”THE ULTIMATE GENTLE GIANT’

Remembering My Big Brother,

Lamont Boles

Our thanks to veteran industry pro and dear friend Lamont Boles for his personal reflection of the legendary Vaughn Harper; his Velvet Voice will be greatly missed!

The following photos are from a Vaughn Harper celebration in 2015.