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.
DAYBREAK
Harry James and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The mist on the meadow is drifting away
For it's daybreak, the sun's in the sky now
And flowers break through their blanket of dew
Sunrise, how lovely it seems
To see from my window a sky full of dreams
As the white clouds sail on through the blue
The song Daybreak by Harry James and His Orchestra presents a new day dawning with hope and beauty. The lyrics refer to the sun rising and dispelling the morning mist from the meadow while flowers grow and blossom under the shine. The song also speaks of the beauty of the sunrise as seen from a window, with a sky full of dreams and the clouds drifting on through the blue sky.
The lyrics use the image of a new day as a metaphor for a fresh start, a new beginning for love, and a hope for a better future. The dreamlike quality of the sky full of dreams reinforces this idea. The use of nature and its changing elements, from the misty meadow to the white clouds sailing through the blue sky, creates a serene and peaceful atmosphere that complements the romantic theme of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Daybreak, another new day
The beginning of a new day, full of possibilities and opportunities
The mist on the meadow is drifting away
The fog on the field is slowly disappearing as the sun rises
For it's daybreak, the sun's in the sky now
The morning has arrived, and the sun is now visible in the sky
And flowers break through their blanket of dew
The flowers, which have been covered in dew overnight, are now blooming
Sunrise, how lovely it seems
The beauty of the sunrise is captivating
To see from my window a sky full of dreams
The view of the sky from the window is full of inspiring possibilities
As the white clouds sail on through the blue
The puffy clouds are moving effortlessly in the blue sky
At daybreak I did dream of you
Upon waking up in the morning, thoughts of a loved one came to mind
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: FERDE GROFE, HAROLD ADAMSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind