Shafi Hadi

Hadi was born Curtis Porter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1][2] The 1930 Census indicated his parents were William Porter and Harriette Porter.[3] At age 6, he received piano lessons from his grandmother.[2] Later, he studied musical composition at Howard University and University of Detroit.[2] Hadi performed with rhythm and blues artists such as Paul Williams, Ruth Brown, and the Griffin Brothers.[2]

Hadi recorded with bassist Charles Mingus between 1956 and 1958.[2] He also recorded with tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley.[4] Hadi improvised the soundtrack music for John Cassavetes's film Shadows, then returned to Mingus's group in 1959.[2][5] He also collaborated with Mary Lou Williams on her 1977 composition "Shafi", although the extent of Hadi's contribution is unclear.[6][7] The 1977 Copyright filing EU841296 by Mary Lou Williams credited words to Hadi, pseud. of Shafi Porter, with music and arrangement credited to Mary Lou Williams.[8]

During the 1950s, Hadi was also active in painting.[2] Between 1965 and 1969 he co-wrote five songs with Lionel Hampton or Gladys Hampton: Bye, Bye,[9] Hamp Stamps,[10] No, Say No,[11] A Sketch Of Gladys,[12] and Mama Knows.[13]

Ancestrylibrary.com has the May 1943 Social Security Application for William Curtis Porter, born 21 September 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a Death Date on June 1976. The Social Security Death Index for William Porter indicates that his Social Security Number was issued before 1951 in West Virginia, and confirms a Death Date of June 1976.[14] Neither the exact date of death nor a location are specified.

Brian Priestley describes Hadi's performance style as a "distinctive mixture of bop and blues, combined with a very individual tone."[6] Martin Williams, writing in 1958, described Hadi's playing as being "both contemporary and a reflection of an apprenticeship in rhythm and blues bands."[15]