Jazz guitarist Joe Negri, who also portrayed the handyman on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, died a month ago today, just 11 days shy of his 100th birthday. Buffalo Jukebox host Adam Duke interviewed Negri prior his time working at WIVB, while an intern at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Negri was hosting a guitar class at Duquesne University to commemorate 45 years teaching at the school. Duke met with Negri in-person following the event, and spoke with him about his love for guitar and the importance of teaching jazz to the new generation. Because the internship had ended by that point, the follow-up interview went unpublished.
This year, Duke planned to reach out to Negri to catch up about the milestone birthday, and hoped to publish both interviews together, but unfortunately, never had the chance. In memory of Joe, a kind and generous man, and in celebration of 99 incredible years of life, here is that follow-up interview, from July 21, 2018.