Joe Negri Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from National Jazz Education Network
PITTSBURGH, PA – The National Jazz Education Network has awarded legendary guitarist and educator Joe Negri its highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, for his seven-decade career in music and teaching. According to organization officials, the award was presented at a ceremony on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to recognize Negri's contributions as a performer, instructor, and mentor. Negri, 98, who gained fame in the 1950s as a member of the "Handyman" television series, has taught jazz guitar at Duquesne University since 1987. The selection committee stated that Negri was chosen for his influence on generations of musicians and his role in preserving American jazz heritage. The award includes a $50,000 grant to support music education programs in local schools.