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.
I Don
Harry James Lyrics
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They've asked me out a hundred times or more
But all I say is, "Leave me in the gloom"
And here I stay within my lonely room
'Cause
I don't want to walk without you, Baby
Walk without my arm about you, Baby
I'd take a stroll and get you right off my mind
But now I find that
I don't want to walk without the sunshine
Why'd you have to turn off all that sunshine?
Oh, Baby, please come back or you'll break my heart for me
'Cause I don't want to walk without you
No, sire
Harry James's song "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" is about the singer's deep attachment to his loved one. The song begins with the singer's friends knocking at his door repeatedly to ask him out, but he remains in his room, feeling lonely and detached. The singer confesses that he cannot go out without his partner and cannot bear the thought of walking alone without his loved one's arm. He had thought that he would be able to forget his loved one and move on after they left, but he finds that he cannot even imagine taking a walk without them. The imagery of sunshine is used throughout the lyrics as a symbol of happiness and joy that the singer feels he can only gain through being with his loved one.
The repetition of "I don't want to walk without you" emphasizes the singer's strong emotional dependency on his loved one. He pleads with them to come back, warning them that they will break his heart for good if they don't. The song's melody is upbeat, in contrast to the melancholic lyrics, adding to the feeling of longing and sadness that the singer feels. The song is a poignant reminder of the all-encompassing love that can bring immense joy and happiness, but also cause immense pain when it is taken away.
Line by Line Meaning
All our friends keep knocking at the door
All of our mutual friends keep trying to persuade me to stop being so down and go out with them.
They've asked me out a hundred times or more
They've been persistent, even though I keep rejecting their invitations.
But all I say is, "Leave me in the gloom"
I keep declining their invitations to hang out and spend time with me in this current state.
And here I stay within my lonely room
I choose to stay alone in my room because I feel sad and do not want to interact with anyone.
I don't want to walk without you, Baby
I cannot imagine moving on without you by my side.
Walk without my arm about you, Baby
I need your presence and comfort beside me, as I am unable to cope without you.
I thought the day you left me behind
The day you left me, I believed that I would eventually overcome my misery.
I'd take a stroll and get you right off my mind
I believed that by taking a leisurely walk, I could clear my mind of thoughts of you.
But now I find that
As time has passed, I realise that my sadness and longing for you has not diminished.
I don't want to walk without the sunshine
I cannot bear to exist without the light and joy that you brought into my life.
Why'd you have to turn off all that sunshine?
Why did you have to leave and take all the joy and warmth out of my life?
Oh, Baby, please come back or you'll break my heart for me
If you do not return, my heart will shatter from the pain and sadness I feel without you.
'Cause I don't want to walk without you
I am unable to accept a life without you and your presence in it.
No, sire
Absolutely not, under any circumstances.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANK LOESSER, JULE STYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jan Procházka
on All or Nothing at All
trumpet boogie