Painting of Joe Negri

A performer from a young age, Negri began playing the guitar as a teenager and joined a swing band at age 16. He entered Carnegie Tech in the 1950s to enhance his musical training. From there he began a 40-year television career on KDKA before he moved onto WTAE where he was an "on air performer" and musical director. Fans of the show remember him best as "Handyman Negri" on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where he would play guitar duets with King Friday XIII and sing with Lady Elaine.