Harry James

Born on 15 March 1916 in Albany, Georgia, trumpeter Harry James had circus personnel for parents, his father a bandleader, and his mother an acrobat and horseback rider, with the Haag Circus. His parents settled in Beaumont, Texas, in 1931 where, at age fifteen, James began playing with local bands. He was with a band led by Herman Waldman when he was discovered by Ben Pollack whose orchestra he joined in 1935. His first issues with Pollack per Tom Lord's Jazzography seem to have been in New York City in 1936 with 'Thru the Courtesy of Love' (Brunswick 7747), 'I'm One Step Ahead of My Shadow' / 'I Couldn't Be Mad at You (Brunswick 7751) and 'Song of the Islands' (Brunswick 7764). James plays trumpet on all samples on this page below.

'I Couldn't Be Mad at You'   Harry James w Ben Pollack and His Orchestra

James' 3rd recording to issue

15 Sep 1936 in NYC   Matrix 19881-1   Brunswick 7751

Trumpet: Charlie Spivak / Shorty Sherock

Trombone: Bruce Squires / Glenn Miller

 Clarinet: Irving Fazola   Alto sax: Opie Cates

Tenor sax: Dave Matthews (arrangement)  Violin: Ray Cohen

Piano: Freddie Slack   Guitar: Frank Frederico

Bass: Thurman Teague   Drums: Sammy Taylor   Vocal: Carol Mackay

Composition: Joseph Meyer / Bob Rothberg

In 1937 James switched to Benny Goodman's operation, joining him in a radio broadcast from New York City to London in January. He would work in Goodman's band, then Goodman in his, into the forties.

'Sing, Sing, Sing'   Harry James w the Benny Goodman Orchestra

July-August 1937 in Hollywood   Film: 'Hollywood Hotel' released 15 Jan 1938

Drums: Gene Krupa

Composition: Louis Prima

 IMDb   Wikipedia

'Ridin' High'   Harry James w the Benny Goodman Orchestra

'Camel Caravan' radio broadcast on 2 Nov 1937 in NYC   Columbia 48319

Trumpet: Ziggy Elman / Chris Griffin

Trombone: Red Ballard / Vernon Brown

 Clarinet: Benny Goodman   Alto sax: Hymie Schertzer / George Koenig

Tenor sax: Arthur Rollini / Vido Musso

Piano: Jess Stacy   Guitar: Allan Reuss

Bass: Harry Goodman   Drums: Gene Krupa   Arrangement: Fletcher Henderson

Composition: Cole Porter for the 1936 musical 'Red, Hot and Blue'

'Ciribiribin'   Harry James w the Benny Goodman Orchestra

James' last recording with Goodman

10 Jan 1939   See Giants of Jazz GoJ1030

Music: Alberto Pestalozza 1898   Lyrics: Carlo Tiochet

In December of 1937 James recorded his initial titles as a leader in New York City, 'I Can Dream, Can't I?' among them. He scored his initial top ten release in pop in 1938 when 'It's the Dreamer in Me' reached #9 followed by 'One O'Clock Jump' at #7 the same year. James placed thirty-three titles in the top ten of the popularity charts [TsorT] from 1938 to 1953. Two of those were issues backing Frank Sinatra. James' was the first band of stature to employ Frank in 1939, a vocalist James would see a lot of. Their first performance together was on June 30, 1939, at the Hippodrome in Baltimore. Of James top ten titles six soared to #1:

   It's the Dreamer In Me   1938   #9 pop
   One O'Clock Jump   1938   #7 pop
   Music Makers   April 1941   #9 pop
   Lament to Love   Aug 1941   #10 pop   vocal by Dick Haymes
   You Made Me Love You   Nov 1941   #5 pop   vocal by Dick Haymes
   I Don't Want to Walk Without You   Feb 1942   #2 pop   vocal by Helen Forrest
   Sleepy Lagoon   April 1942   #1 pop   James' best-selling title overall
   One Dozen Roses   June 1942    #4 pop   vocal by Jimmy Saunders
   He's My Guy   Oct 1942   #9 pop   vocal by Helen Forrest
   Manhattan Serenade   Nov 1942   #9 pop   vocal by Helen Forrest
   Mister Five by Five   Nov 1942   #2 pop   vocal by Helen Forrest   "Mister Five By Five" is Jimmy Rushing
   I Had the Craziest Dream   Dec 1942   #1 pop #2 R&B   vocal by Helen Forrest
   Flash   1943   #10 R&B
   Velvet Moon   1943   #5 R&B
   I've Heard That Song Before  Jan 1943   #1 pop #1 R&B
   All or Nothing at All   June 1943   #2 pop #8 R&B   vocal by Frank Sinatra
   I Heard You Cried Last Night   July 1943   #4 pop
   Jump Town   Jan 1944   #20 pop #9 R&B
   Cherry   Jan1944   #4 pop #10 R&B
   I'll Get by (As Long as I Have You)   April 1944   #1 pop   vocal by Dick Haymes
   I'm Beginning to See the Light   Jan 1945   #1 pop vocal by Kitty Kallen
   I Don't Care Who Knows It   April 1945   #8 pop
   If I Loved You   July 1945   #8 pop   vocal by Buddy Divito
   11:60 P.M.   Sep 1945   #8 pop   vocal by Kitty Kallen
   I'll Buy That Dream   Sep 1945   #2 pop   vocal by Kitty Kallen
   It's Been a Long, Long Time   Oct 1945   #1 pop   vocal by Kitty Kallen
   Waitin' For the Train to Come In   Nov 1945   #6 pop   vocal by Kitty Kallen
   I Can't Begin to Tell You   Dec 1945   #5 pop   vocal by Betty Grable
   I'm Always Chasing Rainbows   Feb 1946   #9 pop
   This Is Always   Sep 1946   #10 pop
   Heartaches   April 1947   #4 pop   vocal by Marion Morgan
   Castle Rock   Sep 1951 #8 pop   vocal by Frank Sinatra
   Velvet Moon  April 1953 #2 pop

'You Made Me Love You'   Harry James and His Music Makers backing Helen Forrest

April 1942 in Hollywood   Film: 'Private Buckaroo' released 28 May 1942

Composition: James Monaco / Joseph McCarthy

 IMDb   Wikipedia

'I've Heard That Song Before'   Harry James and His Orchestra backing Helen Forrest

31 July 1942

Music: Jule Styne 1942   Lyrics: Sammy Cahn

'I Had the Craziest Dream'   Harry James and His Music Makers backing Helen Forrest

Film: 'Springtime in the Rockies' released 6 Nov 1942

Music: Jule Styne   Lyrics Sammy Cahn

 IMDb   Wikipedia

In 1942 James filled Glenn Miller's vacant spot on the 'Chesterfield Radio Show' upon Miller joining the Army. Beyond music, James loved horseracing, owned several that won stakes and was an original investor in the Atlantic City Race Track (now Atlantic City Race Course) in New Jersey which first opened in July 1946. Other investors included Xavier Cugat, Sammy Kaye, Bob Hope and Sinatra.

'It's Been a Long, Long Time'   Harry James and His Orchestra backing Kitty Kallen

24 July 1945 in NYC   Matrix CO 35081-1   Columbia 36838

Music: Jule Styne   Lyrics: Sammy Cahn

'You'll Never Know'   Harry James and His Orchestra backing Rosemary Clooney

23 May 1952 in Hollywood   Matrix RHCO10167-1   Columbia 30905

Trombone: Ray Conniff   Alto sax: Herbie Steward / Mascagni "Musky" Ruffo

Tenor sax: Polly Polfrani (clarinet) / Corky Corcoran

Baritone sax: Bob Poland

Violin: Harry Bluestone / Mike Russell / Felix Slatkin / Lou Raderman

Violin: Nick Pisani / Gerald Vinci / Emil Briano / Erno Neufeld / John DeVoodgt

Viola: Louis Kievman / Paul Robyn / David Sterkin

Cello: Cy Bernard / Elias Friede

Piano: Bruce MacDonald   Guitar: Bob Bain

Bass: Bob Manners   Drums: Jackie Mills

Music: Harry Warren 1943   Lyrics:  Mack Gordon

'Deep Purple'   Harry James and His New Swingin' Band

Feb 1959 in Hollywood   Matrix 59-XY-22-2   MGM SE3778

Trumpet: Nick Buono / John Audino / Ollie Mitchell / Bob Rolfe

Trombone: Ray Sims / Bob Edmondson / Ernie Tack (bass)

Alto sax: Willie Smith / Herb Lorden (clarinet)

Tenor sax: Sam Firmature / Bob Poland (baritone)

Baritone sax: Ernie Small (flute)

Piano: Jack Perciful   Guitar: Dave Koonse

Bass: Joe Comfort   Drums: Jackie Mills

Composition: Peter DeRose / Mitchell Parish

'Satin Doll'   Harry James and His Orchestra

From the album 'Harry James...Today!' recorded in Hollywood 16/22 March 1960

Trumpet: Rob Turk / Nick Buono / Larry McGuire / Verne Guertin

Trombone: Ray Sims / Vince Diaz / Ernie Tack (bass)

Alto sax: Willie Smith / Herb Lorden (clarinet)

Tenor sax: Sam Firmature / Jay Corre (baritone)

Baritone sax: Ernie Small (flute)

Piano: Jack Perciful   Guitar: Terry Rosen

Bass: Russ Phillips   Drums: Tony DeNicola   Arrangement: Bob Florence

Composition: Billy Strayhorn / Duke Ellington / Johnny Mercer

'Undecided'   Harry James and His Orchestra

From the album 'Harry James...Today!' recorded in Hollywood 16/22 March 1960

Trumpet: Rob Turk / Nick Buono / Larry McGuire / Verne Guertin

Trombone: Ray Sims / Vince Diaz / Ernie Tack (bass)

Alto sax: Willie Smith / Herb Lorden (clarinet)

Tenor sax: Sam Firmature / Jay Corre (baritone)

Baritone sax: Ernie Small (flute)

Piano: Jack Perciful   Guitar: Terry Rosen

Bass: Russ Phillips   Drums: Tony DeNicola   Arrangement: Ernie Wilkins

Composition: Charlie Shavers / Sid Robin

'Sunday Morning'   Harry James and His Orchestra   Television

8 May 1966 on the 'Ed Sullivan Show'

Composition: Neal Hefti

'Corner Pocket'   Harry James and His Orchestra   Television

From the album 'The King James Version' recorded 29/30 July 1976 in Hollywood

Composition: Count Basie   Arrangement: Ernie Wilkins

'The Man I Love'   Harry James backing Kei Marimura

James' last-known recordings on this date

From the album 'The Man I Love' recorded 15 April 1983   See Disco Mate 5118

Composition: George & Ira Gershwin 1924   Arrangement: Nelson Riddle

James last performed in 1983 in Los Angeles nine days before his death on July 5 in Las Vegas of lymphatic cancer.

Wikipedia