Harry James was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a traveling circus. By age 10 he was taking trumpet lessons from his father. His father had him on a very strict practicing schedule every day. He was given one page to learn out of the Arban's book (a trumpet drill book) every day and could not do anything until he learned that page.
In 1931 the family settled in Beaumont, Texas and James began playing with local dance bands. James joined the nationally popular Ben Pollack in 1935. At the start of 1937 he left Pollack to join Benny Goodman's orchestra, where he stayed through 1938.
In February of 1939 Harry James debuted his own big band in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He continued touring with the band into the 1980s. His was the first "name band" to employ vocalist Frank Sinatra, in 1939. In 1943 he married actress Betty Grable.
His first wife was ex B.Goodman singer.,Louise Tobin.
You can hear his trumpet playing in the 1950 film Young Man with a Horn, dubbing Kirk Douglas. His recording of "I'm Beginning to See the Light" appears in the motion picture My Dog Skip (2000). James recorded many popular records and appeared in many Hollywood movies.
In 1983, James was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, but he continued to work, playing his last professional job on 26 June 1983 in Los Angeles just nine days before his death in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And The Angels Sing
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The angels sing the sweetest song I ever heard
You speak, and the angels sing
Or am I breathing music into every word
Suddenly, the setting is strange
I can see water and moonlight beaming
Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore - Then
Long winter nights with the candles gleaming
Through it all your face that I adore.
You smile, and the angels sing
And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start
We kiss, and the angels sing
And leave their music ringing in my heart.
The song "And The Angels Sing" by Harry James is a beautiful song about a meeting between two souls that feels almost divine, like the angels themselves are singing. The opening lines of the song, "We meet, and the angels sing / The angels sing the sweetest song I ever heard", indicate that there is something special and almost otherworldly about this encounter. The imagery of angels singing adds to the sense of magic and wonder that surrounds this moment.
As the song continues, the singer seems to be almost overwhelmed by their feelings for the other person, asking "Or am I breathing music into every word?" The suggestion here is that the love and connection they feel is so strong that even the most mundane conversation feels imbued with beauty and song.
The bridge of the song changes the setting to a moonlit shore, but the focus remains squarely on the beloved's face, which is the singer's true north through every season. Finally, the song reaches its emotional climax as the two lovers kiss and music fills the air in their hearts.
Overall, "And The Angels Sing" is a romantic and deeply heartfelt ode to the transformative power of love, with beautiful lyrics and a melody that feels both nostalgic and timeless.
Line by Line Meaning
We meet, and the angels sing
When we come together, the world seems to burst into a joyous chorus sung by angels.
You speak, and the angels sing
Your voice is so beautiful that it inspires the song of heavenly beings.
Suddenly, the setting is strange
All at once, the surroundings become unfamiliar and dreamlike.
I can see water and moonlight beaming
The image of calm waters reflecting the light of the moon comes to mind.
Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore - Then
Perhaps these serene waters crash upon a shore rarely explored or discovered by anyone.
Suddenly, I see it all change
Suddenly, as if in a dream, everything transforms into a different world.
Long winter nights with the candles gleaming
I can imagine cold nights made warm by the flickering light of candles.
Through it all your face that I adore.
Despite the changes in my surroundings, the one constant is my adoration for you and the comfort your presence brings.
You smile, and the angels sing
The beauty of your smile is so radiant that it inspires the song of celestial beings.
And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start
The song of the angels might begin softly, but it grows in strength and beauty over time.
We kiss, and the angels sing
Our love is so powerful that it evokes a symphony of heavenly voices, leaving their melody to echo in my heart.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ziggy Elman, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
THEPETERC1
First rate info, Chuck. By the way, the great soloists Doc, Al Hirt, Butterfield, and Mendez have all played behind Harry.
Robert Sendrow
Excellent
Ramo nline
Benny Goodman & His Orchestra - vocal Martha Tilton - And the Angels Sing - recorded in Hollywood, August 1955
jdsmith02115
Liked it waaaaay better than Ziggy!
Joel Ponzan
Disagree. James sounds stiff and mechanical compared to Ziggy’s “Klezmer” feel.
Brian Miller
I can see a d appreciate both your views. I started out saying it's Ziggy's ..he owns that solo. But James plays ,I just am in heaven. The last 15 seconds James makes up for lagging a bit. Remember Zig was a young man when he played this 17 years earlier. They are both magnificent