Harry James
Date of birth: 1916-03-15
Place of birth: Albany, Georgia, USA
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Harry Haag James
Biography
Harry James was born in a rundown hotel next to the city jail in Albany, Georgia. His mother and father were members of a circus - she as a trapeze artist and he a band leader - with the Mighty Haag Circus. At seven, they settled in Beaumont, Texas where Harry learned yo play drums. By twelve, he was playing trumpet in the Christy Brothers circus band. In 1936 James joined Ben Pollack's band, soon leaving to lead the brass section of Benny Goodman's band. He even once applied to Lawrence Welk's band but was turned down because they said he played too loud and it was not Welk's style. After three years with Goodman, he wanted to leave, and with Goodman's backing, he formed the Music Makers. In 1943 he married pinup queen Betty Grable, his second of four wives. He had earlier married and divorced Louise Tobin, a singer. Grable kept appearing in movies and Harry kept playing while they raised horses. He made his debut in Philadelphia at the Ben Franklin Hotel and soon was a nationwide favorite of dance lovers and jazz addicts, rocking the rafters at the Hollywood Paladium, Chicago's famous College Inn at the Hotel Sherman, Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook in Cedar Cove, NJ, and then onto New York City. It was the Lincoln Hotel in NYC that the Music Makers called home, but James also starred at the Paramount Theater in the spring of 1943, with thousands of teenagers flocking to see him. His version of You Made Me Love You was a big hit and a favorite of many through the war years. James was a great discoverer of talent, finding Frank Sinatra working as a waiter in a New Jersey restaurant and giving him a job singing in his band. Dick Haymes, Kitty Kallen, Connie Haines and Helen Forrest can all thank James for giving them their first real break. In 1963 his band was featured at Disneyland, still known as the Music Makers. He played his last gig at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on June 26, 1983, just a few days before dying of lymphatic cancer.
Movie Credits
The Ladies Man
1961-06-21
After his girl leaves him for someone else, Herbert gets really depressed and starts searching for a
Springtime in the Rockies
1942-11-06
Broadway partners Vicky Lane and Dan Christy have a tiff over Christy's womanizing. Jealous Vicky ta
Hollywood Hotel
1938-01-15
After losing a coveted role in an upcoming film to another actress, screen queen Mona Marshall (Lola
Showbiz Goes to War
1982-12-31
While a few Hollywood celebrities such as James Stewart and Clark Gable saw combat during World War
Carnegie Hall
1947-02-28
A young Irishwoman comes to the United States to live and work with her mother as a cleaning lady at
Do You Love Me
1946-05-17
Katharine Hilliard, mousy dean of a stuffy music school, meets and is insulted by swing band leader
If I'm Lucky
1946-09-02
Out of work swing band maneuvers a gig working for a political campaign, by drawing in and entertain
Swing Fever
1943-11-01
Comedy about a bandleader with hypnotic powers.
I'll Get By
1950-10-02
I'll Get By is an updated remake of the 1940 20th Century-Fox musical Tin Pan Alley. William Lundiga
The Shining Future
1944-04-11
Documentary short film intended to drum up support for the Fifth War Loan Campaign. It shows a happy
Two Girls and a Sailor
1944-06-14
A sailor helps two sisters start up a service canteen. The sailor soon becomes taken with gorgeous s
Bathing Beauty
1944-06-27
After breaking up with her fiancé, a gym teacher returns to work at a women's college, but a legal l
Outlaw Queen
1957-04-27
Christina, the daughter of a Greek-immigrant family who does not share their belief that a woman's p
Best Foot Forward
1943-10-08
Bud Hooper, a cadet at Winsocki Military Academy, sends an invitation to movie star Lucille Ball to
The Opposite Sex
1956-11-15
Former radio singer Kay learns from her gossipy friends that her husband, Steve, has had an affair w
Private Buckaroo
1942-06-12
A rebellious young inductee has trouble toeing the line until he meets a retired officer's lovely da
Too Many Girls
1940-10-08
Mr. Casey's daughter, Connie, wants to go to Pottawatomie College and without her knowledge, he send
Syncopation
1942-05-22
A young trumpeter rises through the jazz world and finds love.
On Our Merry Way
1948-02-03
Oliver Pease gets a dose of courage from his wife Martha and tricks the editor of the paper (where h
The Sting II
1983-02-18
Hooker and Gondorf pull a con on Macalinski, an especially nasty mob boss with the help of Veronica,
That's Entertainment! III
1994-07-01
Some of MGM'S musical stars review the studios history of musicals. From The Hollywood Revue of 1929
How to Marry a Millionaire
1953-10-29
Three women set out to find eligible millionaires to marry, but find true love in the process.
The All-Star Bond Rally
1945-05-10
Inspirational documentary short film featuring Hollywood stars promoting the sales of War Bonds thro
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976-05-16
Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire present more golden moments from the MGM film library, this time includi
This Is Bob Hope...
2017-12-29
During his career, Bob Hope was the only performer to achieve top-rated success in every form of mas
L'empreinte rouge
1937-03-19
Swing Fever
1943-11-01
Comedy about a bandleader with hypnotic powers.
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
1979-12-13
Gala tribute to the Chairman of the Board.
The Benny Goodman Story
1956-02-02
Young Benny Goodman is taught clarinet by a music professor. He is advised to play whichever kind of
Trumpet Serenade
1942-06-01
Harry James and His Orchestra and guests give us a example of their trumpet music.