On a late afternoon in August, outside of Tully’s Coffee on Piedmont in Oakland, one could observe a uniqueness to the man sitting outside in the bitter heat sipping his tea.

His style was captivating, if not commanding. He donned a white zoot suit complete with matching sunglasses, tie, hat, jacket and shoes. His demeanor was calm, suave, sophisticated and slightly shielded.

Passersby raised their eyes in question at his purpose on the street (and in this world) and then just as quickly they averted them as though unseen answers had drawn them away.

Perhaps they were embarrassed by their curiosity. Perhaps they had drawn their own conclusions.

If they had asked him, he would have concluded for them that he is a black man of soul, a struggling musician on a mission to create social change, a prison reform activist and a Muslim. He would have thrown as many diverse elements of himself into the conversation as possible for diversity is what drives him.

His name is Stevie Harris and he is a 33-year-old Oakland based musician with musical talent and roots as widespread as his personality.

His music is organic, thought provoking, challenging, heartfelt, complex and confrontational, according to friends.

It is soul driven by guitar, bass, drums and piano, many of which he has spent decades learning to play. It also hints at influences of hard rock, folk, funk and R&B, according to Harris.

"Stevie has Stevie Wonder funkiness, soulful melodies like 'Al' or 'Marvin,' lyrical genius like David Bowie and revolutionary passion like Che Guevara. Brew these four and marinate with Stevie style, and you’ve got one talented, inspiring cat," said friend, fan and poet Umaya Espinoza, 26 of San Jose.

Fellow fan, Delic Tillman of San Jose has a different take on Harris. "To me Stevie Harris sounds like himself. He has his own sound. He reminds me of a time when artists took the time to actually care about what they say and put substance in their music."

Stevie is all about substance and controversy, according to friends.

"Even his album titles are controversial. One of his albums, 'Other,' is about not putting labels on music, and for his you really can’t," said longtime friend Dennis Chilez of Oakland.

"Stevie is not going to create escapism and dumb stuff down like a lot of pop music does. You can dance to it but it’s going to make you think about reality," Chilez said.

For Harris, reality is playing as many gigs as possible each month to make ends meet. It is reaching out to audiences with the message that being yourself is okay, that you don’t have to be black to like rap, that you don’t have to be white to like rock n’ roll and that 'the not you' will not hurt you.

According to Harris, these concepts, appreciated by members of college audiences whom he said he enjoys playing for, have not been easily accepted by many radio stations. His songs have been passed between stations with uneasy shrugs in all directions.

Harris said he feels that this is because his music has so many elements of different genres and styles.

Friend Chilez agreed, "As a black person, people will look at him crazy because he’ll have a white style. But it’s unique. He has come a long way and his music has really developed over years."

Harris said that facing such roadblocks has not been easy for him but they have not stifled his creative energy or his drive toward continuing to gain recognition as a musician.

"I am not perfect. I am human and my music is the same way," he said.

"For several years I tried to perfect it, but it wasn’t me. I have always been the bridesmaid and never the bride. Hopefully I’ll get there, but either way, I’m not stopping. You just have to forget about being famous and making it because playing is what’s real, even if you’re playing in your room."

But Harris has been playing out of his room for quite some time now.

From 1997 to 2001, Harris signed to Cargo Records both as a solo artist and as a part of a band called Conglomerate. He made three albums for Cargo, including "Armaghetto," "Babylon," and "Pebble."

Two years later, he created his own production company, "Sukinom," under which he has made the albums, "Integration," "Other," Black Will Not Hurt You," and his most recent 2004 release, "Disappeared in the U.S.A." He is currently working on another entitled "Hustling Like Raindrops."

Harris has toured all over the U.S. and in Canada. He hopes to perform in Europe next. He is currently playing throughout California where he plays six shows monthly (on average). Venues where Harris regularly plays include Blakes, Cup of Tea, Mama Buzz, Starry Plough, El Rio, and various Cal State campuses.

"[During live performance], from the voice, the classic fits, to the hard work & consistency, Stevie always feeds his fans," Espinoza said.

On the side, Harris also plays for Remarkable Current, a collaborative of pro-Muslim artists, and he occasionally serves as the co-host for "Critical Resistance Radio," a once-monthly radio show formed by Critical Resistance, a National Grassroots Organization against prison reform.

"Stevie helped to form 'Critical Resistance Radio.' He’s been involved with us for about five years and he’s all about combining art, cultural work, poetry, and activism," said Rose Braz, director of Critical Resistance in Oakland.

"I want to spread the word about prison abolition," said Harris, who has worked extensively toward trying to shut down several prisons within the past few years. "The conditions, the treatment in there: it’s so bad," he said.

Harris’ other passions include supporting fellow musicians and maintaining a constant, good-natured sense of shock value.

Harris is quick to share that members of his family played music alongside the Temptations, that he is the son of a painter and former hairdresser for (Earth, Wind & Fire), that he is a sibling of seven, a San Diego State drop-out, and a former health care assistant.

While all of these pieces come together to form Harris’ puzzle, the finished piece allows that puzzle to be put into a box.

Harris is a soul man.