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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 to great commercial success 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 Albany (city in and county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States), Died July 5, 1983 (Las Vegas (City of Clark County, and largest city in state of Nevada, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1955

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

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 439 records)

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-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  
(Results 1-25 of 439 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "James, Harry," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103347.

James, Harry. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103347.

"James, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103347

External Sources

Wikipedia: Harry James

Discogs: Harry James

Allmusic: Harry James

Grove: Harry James

RISM: Harry James

IMDb: Harry James

Britannica: Harry James

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: James, Harry, 1916-1983 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81131527

Wikidata: Harry James - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q163861

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/78146998420518940243

MusicBrainz: Harry James - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e6b3fe16-d0c5-4825-b33e-a83d8fb5de94

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/82191 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/82191

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