Obituaries
Obituary for Harold DeWitt Beane Sr.
Harold DeWitt Beane Sr., 73, died February 1, 2020.
Harold was born January 3, 1947 to the late DeWitt Beane and the late DeAlean Beane. He is leaving an only brother, Michael Beane. He was united in holy matrimony to Willie Ann (Howell) Beane. Harold leaves to cherish his memories four sons, Harold Beane Jr., Anthony Beane, Darryl Beane and Brian Beane; daughters, Renata Beane Dillard, Stacey Powell (Charlie), and Mone’ L. Bryant; aunt, Carol Johnson; uncle, John Clayborn; nephews, Antoine Beane (Roshetta) and Joel Beane; cousins, Norma P. Johnson (Bill), Prince Wilkins Jr. (deceased), Barry Wilkins (Conniece), Teresa Hudson (Tyrone), Rosalind Johnson, Patrick Clayborn (Sheri); eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at an early age. He graduated from Hamilton High School in 1964. From playing clarinet in school, he took on the guitar. He was a longtime friend of the late Larry Lee, who was the guitarist with Jimmi Hendrix and for Al Green. Larry was his mentor and teacher. Harold was the guitarist for a group they created in 1962 called “The Spades”, which consisted of Bill Cunningham, Daniel “Butch” Merriweather and Charles “Duke” Ingram. He was an influence and inspiration to all of the upcoming musicians in Elliston Heights and guitarists in the city.
Harold played at various known clubs around Memphis and Beale Street like, Club Manhattan, The Hippodrome, Currie’s Club Tropicana and The Flamingo Room. He spent a brief tour playing behind Little Richard. He and the late Teenie Hodges, from Hi Recording Studio, were very good friends and shared their guitar knowledge.
Harold has a long musical history with Stax Records. He played on several hit songs behind Rufus Thomas, like “Push and Pull”, “Break Down”, “Do the Funky Chicken” and other recordings out of Stax. Harold was the guitarist and musical director for Eddie Floyd and William Bell. His guitar can be heard on, “I Forgot To Be Your Lover”, “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday” and “Private Number” by William Bell. He later joined Isaac Hayes and played the lead guitar on “Walk on By” on the Hot Buttered Soul album and continued to tour with him.
Harold became the guitarist for Funkadelic in 1971. He collaborated with George Clinton on the America Eats Its Young Album as a writer and composer. He co-wrote the title cut “America Eats Its Young” and “Loose Booty”.
He performed with The Memphis Ice Breakers (with Stephanie Bolton) and later became the guitarist with Elmo and the Shades, replacing former guitarists the late Larry Lee and the late Skip Pitts.
September 26, 2019 Stax honored Harold with a tribute to Skip Pitts, Bobby Manuel and Harold as, “Masters of the Soul Guitar” and he was entered into the Stax Museum.
Serenity Funeral Home, Tel. (901)379-0861.
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Harold was born January 3, 1947 to the late DeWitt Beane and the late DeAlean Beane. He is leaving an only brother, Michael Beane. He was united in holy matrimony to Willie Ann (Howell) Beane. Harold leaves to cherish his memories four sons, Harold Beane Jr., Anthony Beane, Darryl Beane and Brian Beane; daughters, Renata Beane Dillard, Stacey Powell (Charlie), and Mone’ L. Bryant; aunt, Carol Johnson; uncle, John Clayborn; nephews, Antoine Beane (Roshetta) and Joel Beane; cousins, Norma P. Johnson (Bill), Prince Wilkins Jr. (deceased), Barry Wilkins (Conniece), Teresa Hudson (Tyrone), Rosalind Johnson, Patrick Clayborn (Sheri); eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at an early age. He graduated from Hamilton High School in 1964. From playing clarinet in school, he took on the guitar. He was a longtime friend of the late Larry Lee, who was the guitarist with Jimmi Hendrix and for Al Green. Larry was his mentor and teacher. Harold was the guitarist for a group they created in 1962 called “The Spades”, which consisted of Bill Cunningham, Daniel “Butch” Merriweather and Charles “Duke” Ingram. He was an influence and inspiration to all of the upcoming musicians in Elliston Heights and guitarists in the city.
Harold played at various known clubs around Memphis and Beale Street like, Club Manhattan, The Hippodrome, Currie’s Club Tropicana and The Flamingo Room. He spent a brief tour playing behind Little Richard. He and the late Teenie Hodges, from Hi Recording Studio, were very good friends and shared their guitar knowledge.
Harold has a long musical history with Stax Records. He played on several hit songs behind Rufus Thomas, like “Push and Pull”, “Break Down”, “Do the Funky Chicken” and other recordings out of Stax. Harold was the guitarist and musical director for Eddie Floyd and William Bell. His guitar can be heard on, “I Forgot To Be Your Lover”, “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday” and “Private Number” by William Bell. He later joined Isaac Hayes and played the lead guitar on “Walk on By” on the Hot Buttered Soul album and continued to tour with him.
Harold became the guitarist for Funkadelic in 1971. He collaborated with George Clinton on the America Eats Its Young Album as a writer and composer. He co-wrote the title cut “America Eats Its Young” and “Loose Booty”.
He performed with The Memphis Ice Breakers (with Stephanie Bolton) and later became the guitarist with Elmo and the Shades, replacing former guitarists the late Larry Lee and the late Skip Pitts.
September 26, 2019 Stax honored Harold with a tribute to Skip Pitts, Bobby Manuel and Harold as, “Masters of the Soul Guitar” and he was entered into the Stax Museum.
Serenity Funeral Home, Tel. (901)379-0861.
Previous Events
Memorial
Saturday
8
Feb
1:00 PM
Serenity Funeral Home
1638 Sycamore View Road
Memphis, TN 38134
Cemetery Details
Location
Serenity Columbarium and Memorial Garden - Rotunda
1622 Sycamore View Rd.
Memphis , TN 38134
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