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.
Autumn Leaves
Harry James Lyrics
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The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
Harry James’s song Autumn Leaves is a melancholic and poignant tune that speaks of lost love during the season of autumn. The lyrics of the song reflect the change of seasons – the falling leaves that drift by the window, the autumn leaves of red and gold – as well as the memories associated with that time of year. The singer reminisces about the past summer kisses and sunburned hands that he used to hold, but now that his lover has gone the days have grown long and soon the winter will be upon him. The most painful reminder of his lost love comes when the autumn leaves start to fall.
The French lyrics in the second half of the song serve to deepen the sentimentality of Autumn Leaves. It speaks of a relationship that once thrived but is now separated by life’s small movements. The singer and his love were once in sync with each other, living together as they both loved each other deeply. But life has its way of pulling people apart, gradually and without any fuss. The metaphor of the sea erasing the steps of separated lovers on the sand adds a touch of romantic tragedy to the whole song.
Line by Line Meaning
The falling leaves drift by the window
The leaves falling from the trees gently float by the window, carried by the breeze.
The autumn leaves of red and gold
The leaves of autumn are a mixture of red and gold colors.
I see your lips, the summer kisses
I recall the fond memories of our summer kisses.
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
I miss holding your hands, that were once sunburned from our time spent outdoors together.
Since you went away the days grow long
Ever since you left, the days seem never-ending and feel much longer.
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
Winter is approaching, and soon enough, I will hear the sounds and feel the effects of the cold season.
But I miss you most of all my darling
Above all, I miss you dearly, my beloved.
When autumn leaves start to fall
The arrival of autumn, symbolized by the falling leaves, evokes a stronger sense of missing you.
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
This is a song that resembles us and our love.
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you.
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We lived together as two individuals devoted to each other.
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
You loved me, and I loved you.
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
However, life is unpredictable and can separate two people who love each other.
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
It can happen slowly and silently without making any noise.
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
And the sea erases the footprints of separated lovers on the sand.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CLAUDIO MERLINI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jan Procházka
on All or Nothing at All
trumpet boogie