Biography
Joe Negri (1926–2026) was an American jazz guitarist, educator and actor. He began performing on radio at the age of three and worked as a professional musician from his teens, later teaching jazz guitar for 49 years at the University of Pittsburgh and for 46 years at Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University.
Negri appeared as Handyman Negri (and occasionally as himself, owner of Negri's Music Shop) in the Neighbourhood of Make-Believe segments of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 1968 until 2001, appearing in more than 300 episodes. He was interviewed as himself in the 2018 documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor?.
