Harry James

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Harry James

Born Harry Haag James
March 15, 1916(1916-03-15)
Albany, Georgia, USA
Died July 5, 1983 (aged 67) (lymphatic cancer)
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Occupation Musician
Spouse(s) Louise Tobin (1935-1943) 2 Children
Betty Grable (1943-1965) 3 Children

Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was a popular American musician and band leader, and a well-known trumpet virtuoso.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Harry James was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a band leader of a traveling circus. By the age of 10 he was taking trumpet lessons from his father, who placed him on a strict daily practice schedule. Each day, James was given one page to learn from the Arban's book and was not allowed to pursue any other pastime until he had learned that particular page.

In 1931 the family settled in Beaumont, Texas where James began playing with local dance bands.

[edit] Career

He joined the nationally popular Ben Pollack in 1935 and, at the start of 1937, left Pollack to join Benny Goodman's orchestra, where he stayed through 1938.His hit "You Made Me Love You" was in the top 6 during the week of December 7,1941.

In February of 1939 James debuted his own big band in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He toured with the band into the 1980s. His was the first "name band" to employ vocalist Frank Sinatra, in 1939. He wanted to change Sinatra's name to "Frankie Satin" but Sinatra refused. His later band included Buddy Rich.

He played trumpet in the 1950 film Young Man with a Horn, dubbing Kirk Douglas. James' recording of "I'm Beginning to See the Light" appears in the motion picture My Dog Skip (2000). His music is also featured in the Woody Allen movie Hannah and Her Sisters. James recorded many popular records and appeared in many Hollywood movies.

[edit] Personal life

James was married four times. In 1935, he married Louise Tobin. They remained married until 1943. In 1943 he married actress Betty Grable. His second marriage lasted until 1965. He then married a Las Vegas showgirl, Joan Boyd. His fourth wife's name is unknown.

[edit] Thoroughbred horse racing

James owned several thoroughbred racehorses that won races such as the California Breeders' Champion Stakes (1951) and the San Vicente Stakes (1954). He was also a founding investor in the Atlantic City Race Course.

His knowledge of horse racing was demonstrated during a 1959 appearance on the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour entitled "Lucy Wins A Racehorse."

In 1983, James, a long-time heavy smoker, was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, but he continued to work, playing his last professional job on 26 June 1983 in Los Angeles just nine days before his death in Las Vegas, Nevada.

[edit] Movie appearances

  • Bathing Beauty
  • Best Foot Forward
  • Two Girls and a Sailor
  • Springtime in the Rockies
  • If I'm Lucky
  • Do You Love Me
  • I'll Get By
  • Outlaw Queen
  • Greedy
  • Private Buckaroo
  • The Benny Goodman Story

[edit] Hit songs

  • Sing Sing Sing
  • One O'Clock Jump
  • Life Goes to a Party
  • I've Heard That Song Before
  • Velvet Moon
  • You Made Me Love You
  • All Or Nothing At All (first recording of Frank Sinatra)
  • Trumpet Blues and Cantabile
  • Boo-Woo and Woo-Woo
  • Sleepy Lagoon
  • The Mole

[edit] Gallery

From left: Stan "Cuddles" Johnson, Fraser MacPherson, Bob Smith, Harry James, Al Johnson, Stew Barnett. (The Cave Supper Club, May 1970)

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

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