He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a traveling circus. By the age of 10 he was taking trumpet lessons from his father, who placed him on a strict daily practice schedule. Each day, James was given one page to learn from the Arban's book and was not allowed to pursue any other pastime until he had learned that particular page.
In 1931 the family settled in Beaumont, Texas, where James began playing with local dance bands.
He joined the nationally popular Ben Pollack in 1935 but at the start of 1937, left Pollack to join Benny Goodman's orchestra, where he stayed through 1938.
In February 1939 James debuted his own big band in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His hit "You Made Me Love You" was in the Top 10 during the week of December 7, 1941. He toured with the band into the 1980s.
His was the first "name band" to employ vocalist Frank Sinatra, in 1939. He wanted to change Sinatra's name to 'Frankie Satin' but Sinatra refused. His later band included drummer Buddy Rich.
He played trumpet in the 1950 film Young Man with a Horn, dubbing Kirk Douglas. James's recording of "I'm Beginning to See the Light" appears in the motion picture My Dog Skip (2000). His music is also featured in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters. James recorded many popular records and appeared in many Hollywood movies.
He was second only to Glenn Miller as the most successful recording artist of 1942.
James was married three times. On May 4, 1935, he married singer Louise Tobin, with whom he had two children. They divorced in 1943. That same year, he married actress Betty Grable. They had two daughters, Victoria and Jessica, before divorcing in 1965. James married a third time in 1968 to Las Vegas showgirl Joan Boyd, whom he would divorce in March 1970. Contrary to some assertions, he did not marry a fourth time. He had five children (two by Tobin, two by Grable, one by Boyd) and (as of his death) 16 grandchildren.
James owned several thoroughbred racehorses that won races such as the California Breeders' Champion Stakes (1951) and the San Vicente Stakes (1954). He was also a founding investor in the Atlantic City Race Course. His knowledge of horse racing was demonstrated during a 1958 appearance on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour entitled "Lucy Wins A Racehorse."
In 1983, James was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, but he continued to work, playing his last professional job on June 26, 1983, in Los Angeles, California, just nine days before his death in Las Vegas, Nevada. Frank Sinatra gave the eulogy at the Bunkers Eden Vale Memorial Park in Las Vegas.
If I
Harry James And His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I didn't care more than words can say
If this isn't love, then why do I thrill
And why does my head go round and round
While my heart stood still
If I didn't care, would I feel this way
Would my every breath begin and end
With just your name
Or could all these be true if I didn't care for you
The lyrics of Harry James And His Orchestra's song "If I" are about questioning one's feelings for someone. The singer is asking if their strong emotions would exist if they didn't care about this person. The lyrics state that if it wasn't love, then why do they feel so strongly, with their head spinning and heart skipping a beat. The singer is trying to understand their own feelings, not sure if this connection is just infatuation or something deeper.
The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty, which makes the song relatable to anyone who has questioned their own feelings for someone. The repetition of the phrase "If I didn't care" emphasizes the weight and importance of the situation, as if the question is being asked to someone else, or even to fate. The chorus suggests that the singer is caught up in their feelings, unable to ignore or dismiss them, even if they are unsure of what it all means.
Overall, the lyrics of "If I" are a poignant portrayal of the complexity of emotions and the questions that arise when we fall in love.
Line by Line Meaning
If I didn't care, would I feel this way
If I didn't have any concern, would I still have these intense emotions
If I didn't care more than words can say
My emotions for you can't be fully expressed in words
If this isn't love, then why do I thrill
I am filled with excitement and joy because of my love for you
And why does my head go round and round
My thoughts of you are constantly spinning in my mind
While my heart stood still
Despite my mind racing, my heart remains steadfastly committed to you
Would my every breath begin and end
My love for you is so intense and all-consuming that even my breath revolves around you
With just your name
Just the thought of you is enough to take my breath away
Or would I be sure that is is love beyond compare
My love for you is unparalleled and unconditional
Or could all these be true if I didn't care for you
My feelings for you are the sole reason behind all of these emotions and actions
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jack Lawrence
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind