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Acting

Harry James

Born
Mar 15, 1916 · Aged 67
Died
Jul 5, 1983
Place of birth
Albany, Georgia, USA
Gender
Male
Movie credits
30
TV credits
8
Also known as (2)
  • Harry Haag James
  • Harry James and His Music Makers

Biography

Harry James was born in a rundown hotel next to the city jail in Albany, Georgia. His mother and father were members of a circus - she as a trapeze artist and he a band leader - with the Mighty Haag Circus. At seven, they settled in Beaumont, Texas where Harry learned yo play drums. By twelve, he was playing trumpet in the Christy Brothers circus band. In 1936 James joined Ben Pollack's band, soon leaving to lead the brass section of Benny Goodman's band. He even once applied to Lawrence Welk's band but was turned down because they said he played too loud and it was not Welk's style.…