Harrison's first significant exposure as a professional musician came with Teddy Powell's band.[3] Harrison played in Pennsylvania in 1944.[4] In 1948, he played intermissions at Cafe James in New York.[5] In 1954, he played with a singer at the Hotel Warwick in Philadelphia.[6] He led a big band on a tour of South America prior to recording with his trio.[3]
Harrison's first trio album, The Duke and I, consisting of versions of little-known Duke Ellington compositions, was released by MGM Records in 1956.[7] The reviewer for Billboard wrote: "Harrison is an extremely gifted pianist who ought to be better known. He is technically facile, imaginative, fresh in his harmonic conception and possessed of one of the most rock-ribbed beats imaginable."[7] The following year, this was followed by Wrappin' It Up, another trio release by MGM.[2] Critic John S. Wilson described the performances as "a lightly swinging, unencumbered workout".[8] Around 1960, Harrison led a trio performing at the Park Central Hotel in New York.[9]
Harrison later moved to Puerto Rico.[10] He was also a composer.[11]