Harry James

Harry James

Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947, but shortly after he reorganized and was active again with his band from then until his death in 1983. He was especially known among musicians for his technical proficiency as well as his tone, and was influential on new trumpet players from the late 1930s into the 1940s. He was also an actor in a number of films that usually featured his band.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 15, 1916 (Albany), Died July 5, 1983 (Las Vegas)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, composer, songwriter, leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-04235	10-in.	1/14/1937	Goodnight my love	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Frances Hunt	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	PBS-09569	10-in.	7/6/1937	Peckin'	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	songwriter, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	PBS-09570	10-in.	7/6/1937	Can't we be friends?	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	PCS-09571	12-in.	7/6/1937	Sing, sing, sing	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	PCS-09572	12-in.	7/6/1937	Sing, sing, sing	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	PBS-09576	10-in.	7/7/1937	Roll 'em	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	PBS-09577	10-in.	7/7/1937	When it's sleepy time down South	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	PBS-09578	10-in.	7/7/1937	Afraid to dream	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Betty Van	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	PBS-09579	10-in.	7/7/1937	Changes	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-010112	10-in.	5/3/1937	Peckin'	Ozzie Nelson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	BS-017039	10-in.	11/12/1937	You took the words right out of my mouth	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-017040	10-in.	11/12/1937	Mama, that moon is here again	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-017041	10-in.	11/12/1937	Loch Lomond	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-017042	10-in.	11/12/1937	Camel hop	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-017043	10-in.	11/12/1937	True confession	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-017044	10-in.	11/12/1937	Life goes to a party	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	songwriter, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-017454	10-in.	12/3/1937	If dreams come true	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-017455	10-in.	12/3/1937	I'm like a fish out of water	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-017456	10-in.	12/3/1937	Sweet stranger	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-019831	10-in.	2/16/1938	Don't be that way	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-019832	10-in.	2/16/1938	One o'clock jump	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-024472	10-in.	8/8/1938	You got me	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-024473	10-in.	8/8/1938	Blue interlude	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-028997	10-in.	11/23/1938	I must see Annie tonight	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-028998	10-in.	11/23/1938	Kind'a lonesome	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-028999	10-in.	11/23/1938	My honey's lovin' arms	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-030308	10-in.	11/23/1938	Farewell blues	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-037638	10-in.	6/13/1939	Danger! Men blasting	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-041748	10-in.	10/10/1939	Ciri-biri-bin	Kaydets ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye	Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio	composer
Victor	BS-042794	10-in.	10/5/1939	Ciri-biri-bin	Rosario Bourdon ; Jessica Dragonette	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Victor	BS-042944	10-in.	10/12/1939	Ciri-biri-bin	Smoothies	Mixed vocal trio, with jazz/dance band	composer
Victor	BS-043390	10-in.	11/18/1939	Ciri-biri-bin	Ray Eberle ; Glenn Miller Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	composer
Victor	BS-060331	10-in.	1/16/1941	Bugle call rag	Metronome All Star Band	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-060332	10-in.	1/16/1941	One o'clock jump	Metronome All Star Band	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-062791	10-in.	3/31/1941	Music makers	Marilyn Duke ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	composer
Victor	BS-063841	10-in.	5/2/1941	Music makers	Four King Sisters ; Alvino Rey ; Rhythm Reys	Female vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	composer
Victor	D4VB-0454	10-in.	12/1/1944	I'm beginning to see the light	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	D7VB-1417	10-in.	7/22/1947	Sentimental souvenirs	Three Suns	Instrumental trio	songwriter
Victor	BS-Test-2269	10-in.	7/15/1941	Music makers	The Pied Pipers ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal ensemble	composer
Columbia	HCO1727	10-in.	2/20/1946	I didn't mean a word I said	Buddy DiVito ; Harry James Orchestra ; Harry James	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader
Brunswick	B23642	10-in.	10/31/1938	Everybody's laughing	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Brunswick	B23643	10-in.	10/31/1938	Here it is tomorrow again	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Brunswick	B23687	10-in.	11/09/1938	Say it with a kiss	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Brunswick	B23688	10-in.	11/09/1938	April in my heart	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Brunswick	B23689	10-in.	11/09/1938	I'll never fail you	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Brunswick	B23690	10-in.	11/09/1938	They say	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Decca	89036		August 1955	Shine-10	Benny Goodman and his Orchestra		instrumentalist, trumpet
Decca	89037		August 1955	Sing sing sing-10	Benny Goodman and his Orchestra		instrumentalist, trumpet

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "James, Harry," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103347.

James, Harry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103347.

"James, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.