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.
Here Comes The Night
Harry James and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here comes the night with dreams of you.
Somewhere up there I'll see your face,
The breeze will be your warm embrace.
Here comes the night to thrill my heart,
My one delight while we're apart,
And now I'll seek that rendezvous,
Here comes the night, holding me tight for you.
The song "Here Comes the Night" by Harry James and His Orchestra is a beautiful love song that is all about the longing for a loved one whom the singer is separated from. The song evokes a sense of sadness, as the lyrics describe the blue cloak of the night that is coming, but also of hope and anticipation, as the singer imagines seeing the face of their beloved in the stars above. The night, with its warm breeze, is like a warm embrace from the loved one, and the singer rejoices in the thrill that comes with the thought of being reunited with their partner.
Throughout the song, you can feel the singer's emotions as they long for their loved one. The lyrics are a testament to the deep feelings that can be experienced when someone is separated from the one they love. Despite the loneliness and sadness that can come with the night, there is a sense of hope and anticipation, as the singer imagines the possibility of a future reunion with their beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes the night, my cloak of blue,
The night arrives, enveloping me in its blue hue, symbolizing my sadness and longing.
Here comes the night with dreams of you.
As night falls, I dream of you, my beloved, hoping to see you in my slumber.
Somewhere up there I'll see your face,
I hold onto the belief that even though we are separated, I will someday see your face again, perhaps in the stars above.
The breeze will be your warm embrace.
I imagine the wind's gentle touch as your arms caressing me, providing comfort and solace in your absence.
Here comes the night to thrill my heart,
Despite the sorrowful veil of night, it still gives me joy and excitement, as it brings me closer to reuniting with you.
My one delight while we're apart,
Although we are apart, you remain my sole source of joy and happiness, and the thought of you lights up my world.
And now I'll seek that rendezvous,
I long to be with you and will actively seek out the opportunity for us to meet and revel in each other's company.
Here comes the night, holding me tight for you.
The night holds me tightly in its embrace, reminding me of the warmth and closeness we share and how much I miss you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERT BERNS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind