Shafi Hadi

Hadi was born as William Curtis Porter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 21, 1929.^[1][2] The 1930 Census indicated his parents were William Porter and Harrietti 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]

Hadi died in June 1976, at the age of 46.^[14][15]

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."^[16]