One Dozen Roses - Music

One Dozen Roses by Harry James And His Orchestra

Harry James And His Orchestra

Artist Biography For Harry James And His Orchestra

Henry Haag “Harry” James March 15 1916 – July 5 1983 Was An American Musician And Bandleader. James Was An Instrumentalist Of The Swing Era Employing A Bravura Playing Style That Made His Trumpet Work Identifiable. He Was One Of The Most Popular Bandleaders Of The First Half Of The 1940s And He Continued To Lead His Band Until Just Before His Death 40 Years Later. He Was Born In Albany Georgia The Son Of A Bandleader Of A Traveling Circus. By The Age Of 10 He Was Taking Trumpet Lessons From His Father Who Placed Him On A Strict Daily Practice Schedule. Each Day James Was Given One Page To Learn From The Arban's Book And Was Not Allowed To Pursue Any Other Pastime Until He Had Learned That Particular Page. In 1931 The Family Settled In Beaumont Texas Where James Began Playing With Local Dance Bands. He Joined The Nationally Popular Ben Pollack In 1935 But At The Start Of 1937 Left Pollack To Join Benny Goodman's Orchestra Where He Stayed Through 1938. In February 1939 James Debuted His Own Big Band In Philadelphia Pennsylvania. His Hit "You Made Me Love You" Was In The Top 10 During The Week Of December 7 1941. He Toured With The Band Into The 1980s. His Was The First "name Band" To Employ Vocalist Frank Sinatra In 1939. He Wanted To Change Sinatra's Name To 'Frankie Satin' But Sinatra Refused. His Later Band Included Drummer Buddy Rich. He Played Trumpet In The 1950 Film Young Man With A Horn Dubbing Kirk Douglas. James's Recording Of "I'm Beginning To See The Light" Appears In The Motion Picture My Dog Skip 2000 . His Music Is Also Featured In The Woody Allen Film Hannah And Her Sisters. James Recorded Many Popular Records And Appeared In Many Hollywood Movies. He Was Second Only To Glenn Miller As The Most Successful Recording Artist Of 1942. James Was Married Three Times. On May 4 1935 He Married Singer Louise Tobin With Whom He Had Two Children. They Divorced In 1943. That Same Year He Married Actress Betty Grable. They Had Two Daughters Victoria And Jessica Before Divorcing In 1965. James Married A Third Time In 1968 To Las Vegas Showgirl Joan Boyd Whom He Would Divorce In March 1970. Contrary To Some Assertions He Did Not Marry A Fourth Time. He Had Five Children Two By Tobin Two By Grable One By Boyd And As Of His Death 16 Grandchildren. James Owned Several Thoroughbred Racehorses That Won Races Such As The California Breeders' Champion Stakes 1951 And The San Vicente Stakes 1954 . He Was Also A Founding Investor In The Atlantic City Race Course. His Knowledge Of Horse Racing Was Demonstrated During A 1958 Appearance On The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour Entitled "Lucy Wins A Racehorse." In 1983 James Was Diagnosed With Lymphatic Cancer But He Continued To Work Playing His Last Professional Job On June 26 1983 In Los Angeles California Just Nine Days Before His Death In Las Vegas Nevada. Frank Sinatra Gave The Eulogy At The Bunkers Eden Vale Memorial Park In Las Vegas.