Carl G. Harris, Jr. was born in Fayette, Missouri. He attended public schools in St. Joseph, Missouri and graduated from Bartlett High School with honors. He received the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music (Cum Laude) from Philander Smith College, Master of Arts Degree in Music History from the University of Missouri, and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Conducting from the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri at Kansas City. He has done further study at Westminster Choir College and Vienna State Academy of Music.

Since 1998 Dr. Harris has been Professor of Music and University Organist at Hampton University. Since January, 2005, he has been Minister of Music Emeritus at Norfolk's Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church, serving that historical congregation for 21 years. In 1997, Dr. Harris retired as Professor/Head of the Department of Music and Conductor of the Concert Choir at Norfolk State University. He was a Professor of Music and Conductor of the Concert Choir at Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia from 1971-1984, serving as department chair from 1977-1984. During his tenure at Virginia State University he served as Organist at Gillfield Baptist Church. He is a member of the Tidewater Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, American Choral Directors Association, Choristers Guild, Southeastern Virginia Arts Association, the National Association of Negro Musicians, Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society, Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma Band Fraternities, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Lions Club International.

Dr. Harris has served on the Commission on Accreditation for the National Association of Schools of Music, the Norfolk Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and as a review panelist for the Virginia Commission on the Arts and Humanities. He serves on the Board of Directors of the I. Sherman Greene Chorale. Dr. Harris has made extensive tours of the United States, Canada, and Europe as a choral conductor and lecturer on "The Black Man in American Music." He performs as a pianist, organist, and accompanist. He is in demand as a Choral Adjudicator/Clinician and guest conductor.

He has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the "Distinguished Alumnus Award" from the University of Missouri at Kansas City; the "Living Legend Award" in church and choral music presented by the Choral Directors/Organists Guild of the Hampton University Ministers Conference; and the "Distinguished Contribution Award" from the National Association of Negro Musicians for his performance, promotion and preservation of African-American Music.