Harry James

Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 - July 5, 1983) was a popular United States musician and band leader, and a well known trumpet virtuoso.

Related Topics:
March 15 - 1916 - July 5 - 1983 - United States - Musician - Band leader - Trumpet

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Harry James was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a traveling circus. By age 10 he was taking trumpet lessons from his father. His father had him on a very strict practicing schedule everyday. He was given one page to learn out of the Arban's book(a trumpet drill book)every day and could not do anything until he learned that page.

Related Topics:
Albany, Georgia - Circus

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In 1931 the family settled in Beaumont, Texas and James began playing with local dance bands. James joined the nationally popular Ben Pollack in 1935. At the start of 1937 he left Pollack to join Benny Goodman's orchestra, where he stayed through 1938.

Related Topics:
1931 - Beaumont, Texas - Ben Pollack - 1935 - 1937 - Benny Goodman

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In February of 1939 Harry James debuted his own big band in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He continued touring with the band into the 1960s.

Related Topics:
1939 - Big band - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - 1960s

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His was the first "name band" to employ vocalist Frank Sinatra, in 1939.

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In 1943 he married actress Betty Grable.

Related Topics:
1943 - Betty Grable

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You can hear his trumpet playing in the 1950 film Young Man with a Horn, dubbing Kirk Douglas. He also performs the song "I'm Beginning to See the Light" in the motion picture My Dog Skip (2000). James recorded many popular records and appeared in many Hollywood movies.

Related Topics:
1950 - Film - Young Man with a Horn - Kirk Douglas - My Dog Skip - 2000 - Hollywood

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Harry James played his last professional job on 26 June, 1983 in Los Angeles, California. He died less than two weeks later in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Related Topics:
26 June - 1983 - Los Angeles, California - Las Vegas, Nevada

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