Harry James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry James
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James around 1942
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| Born |
Harry Haag James
March 15, 1916 |
| Died | July 5, 1983 (aged 67) |
| Spouse(s) |
Joan Boyd
(m. 1967; div. 1970) |
| Children | 5 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Trumpet |
| Years active | 1933–1983 |
| Labels | |
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Harry Haag James (born March 15, 1916 – died July 5, 1983) was a famous American musician. He was best known as a band leader who played the trumpet. He led his own big band from 1939 until 1946.
After a short break in 1947, he started his band again. He continued performing with his band until he passed away in 1983. Harry James was especially known among other musicians for how skilled he was at playing the trumpet. He also had a very clear and strong sound. Many new trumpet players in the late 1930s and 1940s looked up to him. He also acted in several movies, which often featured his band.
Contents
Early Life and Circus Days
Harry James was born in Albany, Georgia, in the United States. His father, Everett Robert James, was a bandleader in a traveling circus called the Mighty Haag Circus. His mother, Myrtle Maybelle (Stewart), was an acrobat and rode horses in the circus.
Harry started performing with the circus when he was very young. At age four, he was a contortionist, bending his body into different shapes. Around age six, he began playing the snare drum in the circus band. When he was six, he had a close call. He wandered onto the circus track while horses were performing stunts. Luckily, his mother's pet horse stood over him, protecting him until the other horses rushed by.
Harry's father began teaching him trumpet lessons when he was eight years old. By the time he was twelve, Harry was leading the second band in the Christy Brothers Circus. His family was working for this circus at the time. Harry's father made him practice the trumpet every day. He had to learn several pages from a special music book called the Arban method before he could do anything else fun.
While he was still a student at Dick Dowling Junior High School, he played in the Royal Purple Band at Beaumont High School. In May 1931, he won first place as a trumpet soloist. This was at a contest held in Temple, Texas, for band teachers.
Music Career and Big Bands
In 1924, Harry's family settled in Beaumont, Texas. When he was 15, Harry started playing in local dance bands there. He often played with Herman Waldman's band. One day, a famous bandleader named Ben Pollack noticed Harry's talent.
In 1935, Harry joined Pollack's band. But he left in early 1937 to join Benny Goodman's orchestra. He stayed with Goodman's band through 1938. Harry was nicknamed "The Hawk" early in his career. This was because he was amazing at reading music he had never seen before. People joked that if a fly landed on his music, Harry would play it!
His trumpet playing had a warm sound, especially in the lower notes. This sound was similar to a cornet or even a flugelhorn. However, his bright, high notes were often recorded more.
Leading His Own Band
With some help from Benny Goodman, Harry James started his own big band in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in January 1939. At first, the band wasn't a big success. But in 1941, they added a string section (like violins and cellos), and everything changed!
His band became known as Harry James and His Music Makers. They had a huge hit song called "You Made Me Love You". This song reached number 5 on the Billboard charts in November 1941. It stayed on the charts for 18 weeks!
Harry and his band also appeared in three Hollywood movies. These included Private Buckaroo and Springtime in the Rockies (both from 1942), and Two Girls and a Sailor (1944). Harry James continued to tour with his band into the 1980s. Even today, the Harry James Orchestra, led by Fred Radke, still performs.
Famous Band Members
Harry James' band was the first well-known orchestra to feature a singer named Frank Sinatra. Sinatra signed a contract with the band in 1939, earning $75 a week. Harry James wanted to change Sinatra's name to 'Frankie Satin', but Sinatra said no. Frank Sinatra only stayed with the band for seven months before joining another famous band led by Tommy Dorsey.
The Harry James band also featured a talented female singer named Helen Forrest. Later, famous drummers like Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson played in his band. Johnny MacAfee played the saxophone and sang, and Corky Corcoran was a very young and gifted saxophone player.
Radio and Film Appearances
Harry James' orchestra took over a radio show sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes in 1942. This happened when Glenn Miller's orchestra stopped performing so Miller could join the Army. In 1945, Harry James and his orchestra had a summer radio show on CBS. He also led the orchestra for a show called Call for Music in 1948.
Harry James recorded many popular songs and appeared in several Hollywood movies. He played the trumpet in the 1950 film Young Man with a Horn. He actually played the trumpet parts for actor Kirk Douglas in the movie. The album from this movie became a number one hit, with Harry James backing singer and actress Doris Day.
His recording of "I'm Beginning to See the Light" is in the movie My Dog Skip (2000). His music is also featured in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters. You can hear Harry James' recording of "It's Been a Long, Long Time" in the Marvel movies Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Endgame.
Personal Life
Harry James was married three times. His first marriage was to singer Louise Tobin in 1935. They had two sons, Harry Jeffrey James (born 1941) and Timothy Ray James (born 1942). They divorced in 1943.
Later that same year, he married the famous actress Betty Grable. They had two daughters, Victoria Elizabeth (born 1944) and Jessica (born 1947). They divorced in 1965. In December 1967, Harry James married Las Vegas showgirl Joan Boyd. They had one son, Michael (born 1968), before divorcing in 1970.
Harry James also owned several Thoroughbred racehorses. Some of his horses won important races, like the California Breeders' Champion Stakes in 1951 and the San Vicente Stakes in 1954. He was also one of the first investors in the Atlantic City Race Course. His knowledge of horse racing was shown during a 1958 TV appearance. He was on The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour in an episode called "Lucy Wins A Racehorse".
In 1983, Harry James was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer. Despite his illness, he continued to work. He played his last professional show with the Harry James Orchestra on June 26, 1983, in Los Angeles. He passed away just nine days later, on July 5, 1983, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 67. His friend, Frank Sinatra, gave a speech at his funeral in Las Vegas.
Awards and Recognition
Grammy Hall of Fame
Two of Harry James' recordings have been added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. This special Grammy award was created in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least 25 years old and are very important historically or for their quality.
- In 1999, his 1942 recording of "Trumpet Blues and Cantabile" was inducted.
- In 2010, his 1941 song "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" was also inducted.
Readers' Polls
Metronome magazine used to ask its readers to vote for the best jazz musician on each instrument every year. The winners were invited to play together in a special group called the Metronome All-Stars. Harry James was chosen to play trumpet with the Metronome All-Stars in 1939, 1940, and 1941.
Another magazine, Downbeat magazine, also had a similar poll. They chose Harry James as the best trumpet player for 1937, 1938, and 1939. He was also named favorite soloist in 1942.
Other Honors
For his amazing work in the movie industry, Harry James received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find his star at 6683 Hollywood Boulevard. He received this honor on February 8, 1960.
In 1983, he was also inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.
Filmography
- Hollywood Hotel (1937) (as himself, in Benny Goodman's band)
- Syncopation (1942) (as himself)
- Springtime in the Rockies (1942) (as himself)
- Private Buckaroo (1942) (as himself)
- Swing Fever (1943) (as himself)
- Best Foot Forward (1943) (as himself)
- Bathing Beauty (1944) (as himself)
- Two Girls and a Sailor (1944) (as himself)
- Do You Love Me (1946)
- If I'm Lucky (1946)
- Carnegie Hall (1947) (as himself)
- I'll Get By (1950) (as himself)
- The Benny Goodman Story (1956) (as himself)
- The Opposite Sex (1956) (as himself)
- Outlaw Queen (1957)
- Riot in Rhythm (1957) (short subject; as himself)
- The Big Beat (1958)
- The Ladies Man (1961) (as himself)
- The Sting II (1983)
Discography
Harry James released many albums and singles throughout his career. He had nine songs reach number one on the U.S. pop charts. He also had 32 songs in the top ten and 70 songs in the top 100.
See also
In Spanish: Harry James para niños
- Al Lerner (composer)
- Dick Haymes
- Jack Gardner
