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.
Indiana
Harry James and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it seems that I can see
The gleamin' candlelight,
Atill shinin' bright,
Through the sycamores for me.
The new mown hay sends all its fragrance
From the fields I used to roam.
Then I long for my Indiana home.
Oh, I have always been a wanderer
Over land and sea,
Yet a moonbeam on the water
Casts a spell o'er me;
A vision fair I see,
Again I long to be;
Back home again in Indiana,
And it seems that I can see
The gleamin' candlelight,
Atill shinin' bright,
Through the sycamores for me.
The new mown hay sends all its fragrance
From the fields I used to roam.
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash,
Then I long for my Indiana home,
Indiana home.
The song Indiana by Harry James and His Orchestra is a beautiful tribute to the state of Indiana. The song captures the emotions and feelings of someone who has been away from their home state for an extended period of time and is now finally returning.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's homecoming. The gleaming candlelight shining bright through the sycamores signifies that his home is still the same as he left it. The new-mown hay sends fragrances from the fields as it did in his childhood, highlighting the familiarity of his surroundings. The moonlight on the Wabash river is a symbol of his life's journey, and his return home signifies a moment of inner peace and completion.
The lyrics also underline the wanderlust of the singer, who has traveled far and wide, yet when he sees a moonbeam on the water, he is reminded of his homeland. The vision of Indiana's beauty is so compelling that he cannot wait to be back home in Indiana. The song beautifully captures the essence of the singer's journey of self-discovery and the continuous pull of his roots.
Line by Line Meaning
Back home again in Indiana,
Returning to my Indiana hometown once more.
And it seems that I can see
The memories of home are so vivid they feel like reality.
The gleamin' candlelight,
A warm and inviting light shining from my home.
Atill shinin' bright,
The light is still as bright and welcoming as I remember.
Through the sycamores for me.
The light shines through the sycamore trees, guiding me home.
The new mown hay sends all its fragrance
The sweet scent of fresh cut hay fills the air.
From the fields I used to roam.
The fields where I spent my childhood days playing.
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash,
Remembering the moonlit nights spent by the Wabash River.
Then I long for my Indiana home.
Feeling a strong desire to return to my beloved Indiana home.
Oh, I have always been a wanderer
Acknowledging my restless nature and love for travel.
Over land and sea,
Journeying far and wide.
Yet a moonbeam on the water
A shimmering moonbeam reflected on the water's surface.
Casts a spell o'er me;
Experiencing a magical feeling that draws me in.
A vision fair I see,
A beautiful sight that captivates my imagination.
Again I long to be;
Feeling a strong desire to revisit that place.
Indiana home.
The place I feel most at home and yearn to return to.
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC. , Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BALLARD MACDONALD, J. HANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind