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. |
= 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 | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | instrumentalist, trumpet, songwriter | |
| 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 | 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 May 2, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103347.
James, Harry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103347.
"James, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Harry James
Discogs: Harry James
Allmusic: Harry James
Grove: Harry James
IMDb: Harry James
Britannica: Harry James
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: James, Harry, 1916-1983 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81131527
Wikidata: Harry James - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q163861
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/78146998420518940243
MusicBrainz: Harry James - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e6b3fe16-d0c5-4825-b33e-a83d8fb5de94
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