Joe Negri, the Pittsburgh-born jazz guitarist who became known to millions as "Handyman Negri" on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, died Sunday at 99, just days before his 100th birthday on June 10. For generations of Pittsburghers, his warm guitar tone and easy-going presence made him a familiar face on television, in concert halls, and in classrooms all over the city.
According to WTAE, Negri's oldest daughter Lisa, said he died of natural causes. The station also noted his decades-long relationship with Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and that he would have turned 100 next month.
Negri's connection to Mister Rogers stretched across the show's run. He appeared both as a musician and as the affable "Handyman" who ran Negri’s Music Shop, a role that grew naturally out of his real-life career, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He began performing professionally as a teenager, later served as WTAE's music director, and recorded and performed with major jazz figures. Alongside those achievements, he built a long career as a teacher, becoming a touchstone of Pittsburgh's music community.
A Handyman In The Neighborhood
On-screen, Negri often played himself or Handyman Negri in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where he would fix problems, play guitar, and introduce visiting performers, according to the Fred Rogers organization's MisterRogers.org profile. The music shop segments turned instruments and live performance into something kids could reach for, and his easy rapport with Fred Rogers helped make music feel like a natural part of the show's gentle life lessons.
Teacher, Mentor And Pittsburgh Fixture
Negri spent decades teaching jazz guitar at local schools. Duquesne University honored him in 2022 after more than 40 years on its faculty, highlighting his impact in the School of Music. Colleagues and Pittsburgh institutions have preserved his materials and recordings, a quiet sign of how deeply he shaped the city's musical life beyond public television.
Profiles over the years praised Negri's musicianship and taste, with publications like Vintage Guitar chronicling his long career and influence. For many in the region, though, it is that gentle presence on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and his lifelong commitment to teaching that will stick most, long after the final chord fades.
