Harry James's
Top 10 Records |
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Name: Harry James
| Nee: |
Harry Haag James |
| Born: |
15 Mar 1916 |
| Died: |
5 Jul 1983 |
| Origin: |
Albany, Geogia, United States |
| Instruments: |
Trumpet |
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Harry James first played drums but then took up the trumpet like his father. Harry James, only nine years old, and his father played in the band of a touring circus. It wasn't long before Harry James's father had taught him all he knew so he left the band and played with various other bands in Texas. In 1935 he joined Ben Pollock but by early 1937 was hired by Benny Goodman. He formed part of the exciting trumpet section along with Goodman, Ziggy Elman and Chris Griffin. He stayed with Ellington for nearly two years before leaving to form his own group. Harry James married Betty Grable and his popularity increased. The band grew in popularity mainly because of Harry James's solos, but some of it's success should be attributed to his singers Louise Tobin, to whom he was briefly married before Grable, Frank Sinatra, who soon left to join Tommy Dorsey, Helen Forrest, Dick Haymes and Kitty Kallen.
Throughout the 1940's and 1950's Harry James's band established a solid reputation mainly due to his sidemen such as Willie 'The Lion' Smith, Buddy Rich, Corky Corcoran and Juan Tizol. Harry James's record ensemble grew with many of his solos including 'The Flight Of The Bumble Bee', 'The Carnival Of Venice', 'I Cried For You' and 'You Made Me Love You'. In the mid 1950's Harry James formed a band to play the charts but he was accused of copying Count Basie. This was a little unfair as Harry James's band was in existence before Count Basie's but the latter band proved more successful. During the 1960's and 1970's Harry James continued leading bands but also divided his time between a residency at a major hotel and casino venues mostly in Las Vegas. Harry James was popular right up until the 1980's. He suffered from cancer but still didn't lose his enthusiasm for playing. Tragically the cancer claimed his life in 1983. |
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