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.
From the Bottom of My Heart
Harry James and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the bottom of my heart I need you
You're part of my day
My inspiration is you alone
To call my own
I love you, I love you
It's you I adore
Ev'ry moment we're apart I miss you
And, darling, what's more
I'd be on my way to heaven
If you'd say "I love you from the bottom of my heart"
From the bottom of my heart I want you
It's you I adore
Ev'ry moment we're apart how I miss you
And, darling, what's more
I'd be on my way to heaven
If you'd say "I love you from the bottom of my heart"
The lyrics of "From The Bottom Of My Heart" express a deep longing for someone special. The singer is speaking directly to their love interest, telling them that they are an integral part of their life - "You're part of my day." The person they're singing about is their inspiration, the one they love, and they are desperately in need of them. They miss each other when they're apart, and the singer wishes that their love for each other were stronger than anything - if only their love interest would say "I love you from the bottom of my heart," the singer would feel like they were on their way to heaven.
The romantic lyrics are accompanied by Frank Sinatra's powerful, emotional vocals and Harry James & His Orchestra's lush, sweeping arrangements. The song was released in 1947, during the height of Sinatra's popularity, and it quickly became a hit. It's an example of the classic American love song, with soaring melodies and unabashed emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
What more can I say?
What more can I say to convince you of my love?
From the bottom of my heart I need you
I need you with every fiber of my being, it's essential to my existence
You're part of my day
You're intertwined with my daily life and thoughts, you're a fundamental part of it
My inspiration is you alone
You're the only source of inspiration that drives me forward
To call my own
I want to possess and love you as mine, forever and always
I love you, I love you
I love you with every fiber of my being, nothing in this world can change that
From the bottom of my heart I want you
I want you with every fiber of my being, it's essential to my happiness
It's you I adore
I adore everything about you, your flaws, your quirks, your beauty, everything
Ev'ry moment we're apart I miss you
My heart aches for you when we're not together, every moment feels like an eternity without you
And, darling, what's more
And my love for you continues to grow, deeper and stronger with every passing moment
I'd be on my way to heaven
I would feel like I'm in heaven, complete and content, if you say these three words to me
If you'd say "I love you from the bottom of my heart"
If you confess your love for me with the same passion and intensity that I feel for you, my heart will be complete
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CARLIN AMERICA INC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RAY RIVERA, MURRAY SHAKTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind