Harry James was born in a rundown hotel next to the city jail in Albany, Georgia, where his parents, both members of a circus, had settled temporarily. His mother was a trapeze artist, and his father, a band leader, performed with the Mighty Haag Circus. At the tender age of seven, Harry and his family moved to Beaumont, Texas, where he began to learn the art of drumming.
As he grew older, Harry's passion for music only intensified, and by the time he was twelve, he was already playing the trumpet with the Christy Brothers Circus band. This early start in music would pave the way for his future success.
In 1936, Harry James joined Ben Pollack's band, but his stay was short-lived, as he soon left to lead the brass section of Benny Goodman's band. It was during his time with Goodman that Harry applied to join Lawrence Welk's band, only to be turned down due to his tendency to play too loudly, a style that didn't fit Welk's vision.
After three years with Goodman, Harry decided it was time to strike out on his own, and with his former boss's blessing, he formed the Music Makers. In 1943, Harry married the famous pinup queen Betty Grable, his second of four wives. Prior to their marriage, Harry had been married to Louise Tobin, a singer, whom he later divorced.
Grable continued to appear in movies, while Harry remained dedicated to his music, even taking up horse breeding with his wife. His music career took off, with his debut performance in Philadelphia at the Ben Franklin Hotel, followed by a nationwide tour that took him to the Hollywood Paladium, Chicago's famous College Inn at the Hotel Sherman, Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook in Cedar Cove, NJ, and eventually to New York City.
The Lincoln Hotel in NYC became the Music Makers' home base, but Harry also performed at the Paramount Theater in the spring of 1943, drawing thousands of teenagers who flocked to see him. His rendition of "You Made Me Love You" became a huge hit and a favorite among many during the war years.
Harry James was not only a talented musician but also a great discoverer of talent, giving breaks to future stars like Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes, Kitty Kallen, Connie Haines, and Helen Forrest. In 1963, his band was featured at Disneyland, still known as the Music Makers.
Harry James played his final gig at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on June 26, 1983, just days before his death from lymphatic cancer.
