Anyone who has lived in Houston long enough and visited some of our city’s finest restaurants is sure to have to have heard Harry Sheppard playing his unique “magic xylophone” at some point.
The 92-year-old Sheppard is mostly known for his vibraphone playing and contributions to jazz. Most recently he could be seen around town playing his MalletKAT, a fascinating rubber instrument which converts mechanical energy into electrical signals.
Sheppard, originally from Massachusetts, moved to New York City in the 1950s and was a popular choice for the big bands of the time. “New York was so great because there was so much jazz back in the ‘50s, every other club was a jazz club.”