Jimmy Bryant (singer) facts for kids

James Howard Bryant (born June 2, 1929 – died June 22, 2022) was an American singer, music arranger, and composer. He is most famous for being the singing voice of the character Tony in the 1961 movie musical West Side Story. Even though he wasn't officially credited in the movie, the actor who played Tony, Richard Beymer, often mentioned James Bryant's name in interviews. Bryant also sang for James Fox in the 1967 film Thoroughly Modern Millie and was part of a song in Bye Bye Birdie. He also sang in the group that performed the famous theme song for the Batman TV show.

Early Life and Musical Training

James Bryant was born in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. He grew up in a nearby town called Tarrant, Alabama. He loved music and studied at Birmingham Southern College and the Birmingham Conservatory of Music. Later, he earned a special scholarship to study composition at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

A Career in Music

In 1953, James Bryant moved to New York City to start his music career. He began by singing in the background for other artists. Later, he moved to Los Angeles and played the bass guitar in the house band at a restaurant in Beverly Hills. This restaurant was owned by the famous singer Frank Sinatra.

Orchestration and Composing

James Bryant also worked as an orchestrator, which means he arranged music for orchestras. He did this for movies like Not with My Wife, You Don't! and Penelope. He also worked on the TV series Lost in Space. Beyond movies and TV, Bryant composed music that you can hear at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland. He also wrote music for many radio and TV commercials for companies like Lone Star beer, Tecate, Chrysler, and Toyota.

Later Years and Legacy

James Bryant passed away on June 22, 2022, when he was 93 years old. He left behind a legacy of memorable singing voices and musical arrangements in many popular films and TV shows.