Joe Negri: key obituary facts
Is Joe Negri dead? Yes. Joe Negri died on May 30, 2026, at age 99.
Cause of death: Joe Negri's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Joe Negri known for?
He was known as American musician.
More about Joe Negri
Born: 10 June 1926.
Place of birth: Pittsburgh.
Gender: male.
Occupation: jazz musician, music educator, television actor, jazz guitarist.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts.
Employer: University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University.
Career began: 1929.
Also known as: Joseph Harold Negri.
Genres: Jazz.
Occupations: Musician, educator, actor.
Years active: 1929–2026.
Joe Negri, an American jazz guitarist and educator, died on May 30, 2026, at age 99.
Born Joseph Harold Negri on June 10, 1926, in Pittsburgh, he began performing on radio at age 3, playing ukulele and singing before moving into professional work as a guitarist. Over a career that began in 1929, he became a familiar figure in Pittsburgh music and later taught jazz guitar for 49 years at the University of Pittsburgh, where the subject was first offered as a discipline in higher education, as well as for 46 years at Duquesne University and at Carnegie Mellon University.
Negri also appeared on television, including Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, where he was seen as himself and as Handyman Negri in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe segments.
Joe Negri, 99, American jazz guitarist and educator.