Joe Negri to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Pittsburgh Jazz Festival Ceremony
PITTSBURGH, PA (May 15, 2024) – At 10:00 AM local time on Saturday, Joe Negri, the legendary jazz guitarist and educator, was formally announced as the recipient of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award during a special ceremony at the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival. The honor, presented by the festival’s board of directors at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, recognizes Negri’s seven-decade career as a virtuoso performer, teacher, and television personality. Known for his work on the children’s program "Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood," Negri, 97, expressed gratitude for the recognition, citing the city of Pittsburgh as the enduring foundation of his musical journey. This award underscores his profound influence on jazz education and the local arts community.