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.
Deep Purple
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wo-o-oo-wo-wo,
Wo-o-oo-wo-wo,
Wo-o-oo-wo-wo
When the deep purple falls
Over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle in the night
In the mist of a memory
Breathing my name with a sigh
In the still of the night
Once again I hold you tight
Tho' you're gone your love lives on when light beams
And as long as my heart will beat
Sweet lover, we'll always meet
Here in my deep purple dreams
When the deep purple falls
Over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle
In the night
In the mist of a memory
You wander all back to me
Breathing my name with a sigh
In the still of the night
Once again I hold you tight
Tho' you're gone your love lives on when moonlight beams
And as long as my heart will beat
Sweet lover, we'll always meet
Here in my deep purple dreams
And as long as my heart will beat
Sweet lover, we'll always meet
Here in my deep purple dreams
Wo-o-oo-wo-wo,
Wo-o-oo-wo-wo,
Wo-o-oo-wo-wo
The song “Deep Purple” by Harry James is a love ballad that speaks of the enduring power of love. The first verse sets the scene for the dreamlike quality of the song, painting a picture of a quiet and serene night where the stars twinkle in the sky. The second verse reflects on the memories of a lover who has gone away, but whose love still lingers in the heart of the singer. The lyrics are filled with emotion and evoke a sense of nostalgia, as the singer longs to be reunited with their lover in their “deep purple dreams”.
The chorus repeats the themes of the verses, reinforcing the message that the singer’s love will endure despite the physical separation. The use of the color purple creates a dreamlike quality to the lyrics, as it is associated with mystery, imagination, and spirituality. The song is a beautiful meditation on the power of love and the way it can transcend time and distance.
Overall, “Deep Purple” is a classic love ballad that has endured for generations. Its lyrics speak of the enduring power of love and the way it can bring two people together even when they are apart. Its haunting melody and dreamlike quality have made it a popular choice for covers by many artists over the years, cementing its place as one of the great love songs of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
When the deep purple falls
As the sun sets and darkness takes over
Over sleepy garden walls
Darkness creeps over the walls of a quiet garden
And the stars begin to twinkle in the night
The stars light up the dark sky
In the mist of a memory
In the hazy recollection of a past experience
You wander all back to me
Your memory comes back to me
Breathing my name with a sigh
Remembering me with a deep exhale
In the still of the night
In the quietness of the night
Once again I hold you tight
I imagine holding you tightly
Tho' you're gone your love lives on when light beams
Although you're not here, your love stays with me in the light
And as long as my heart will beat
As long as I live
Sweet lover, we'll always meet
We will always be together
Here in my deep purple dreams
In my vivid imagination
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER DE ROSE, MITCHELL PARISH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BubbaTex
Listen to the entire Your Dance Date with Harry James album here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6QBz9lSHKg&list=PL0E0123v1zlO3hfOeltIf9PGVzc6HGWvb
Listen to the entire Harry James Snooty Fruity compilation album here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wag4w-BqwVc&list=PL0E0123v1zlOQuKzcrd2liNP8AkAlKbSk
Laura Cummings
Love this song; currently learning it for piano.
BubbaTex
@Laura Cummings thanks for sharing! I'm glad you found this version as there are a lot out there - Harry James even released another recording of it in 1959: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SSe7HlWVYM. Have fun learning it on piano!
Brian Lemaire
I'm always looking or 1949 or 1950 classics. This fits the bill nicely.
BubbaTex
@Brian Lemaire I'm glad you found it, and thanks for tuning in. BTW, I noticed the Cole Porter playlist on your channel. You might be interested in HJ's treatment of a Cole Porter song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWXHcWSfB3A Happy listening!
5Puff
Allie grant yeet