HARRY JAMES

Harry James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983died at age 67) was an American musician and bandleader, and a well-known trumpet virtuoso. James was one of the most outstanding instrumentalists of the swing era, employing a bravura playing style that made his trumpet work instantly identifiable. He was also one of the most-popular bandleaders of the first half of the 1940s, and he continued to lead his band until just before his death, 40 years later.

He was born Harry Haag James in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader 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. He joined the nationally popular Ben Pollack in 1935 but at the start of 1937, left Pollack to join Benny Goodman‘s orchestra, where he stayed through 1938. In February 1939 James debuted his own big band in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His hitYou Made Me Love You” was in the Top 10 during the week of December 7, 1941. 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 drummer Buddy Rich. He played trumpet in the 1950filmYoung Man with a Horn, dubbing Kirk Douglas. James’s 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 film Hannah and Her Sisters. James recorded many popular records and appeared in many Hollywood movies. He was second only to Glenn Miller as the most successful recording artist of 1942.