Born March 15, 1916 in Albany, Georgia, Harry James was a trumpeter and band leader who was immensely popular during the 1940s. Born into a circus family, James learned to play the trumpet and read music as a child. His family relocated to Beaumont, Texas, where he began to perform with local dance bands. With the swing era in full bloom, he had a stint with the Benny Goodman Orchestra before he launched his own band, Harry James and His Music Makers. The band was not an immediate commercial success, but once he added a string section in 1941, Harry James and His Orchestra struck a chord with a larger audience. Their sound moved further away from his jazz roots and embraced a more commercial pop style, As hits such as “I've Heard That Song Before”, “I Cried for You”, “I Don't Want to Walk Without You”, and his most well-known song “You Made Me Love You” made him famous nationally, he had radio shows during and after World War II. His charismatic performances and appearances in motion pictures made him one of the most recognizable band leaders in the world. Throughout the orchestra’s career, he worked with many different vocalists including Frank Sinatra, Kitty Kallen, Dick Haymes, Helen Forrest, Connie Haines, and others. With a revolving line-up, the musicians in the orchestra may not have included many big names, but future easy listening icon Ray Conniff was one of the more notable members. After the end of World War II in September 1945, most big bands – including Harry James' Orchestra - saw a decline in sales and attendance at their live shows. By the 1950s, he had to disassemble his orchestra and work with smaller groups. He did revive the orchestra on occasion, releasing some new recordings including the Wild About Harry album in 1957. He continued to play live, often touring the U.S. and UK. His final live performance was in Las Vegas, Nevada with his orchestra just nine days before his death. Harry James died of cancer on July 5, 1983.
