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.
Perdido
Harry James and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I look for my heart
It's perdido
I lost it way down in Torito
The day the fiesta started
Bolero,
I sway that they play the Bolero
And that's when my heart departed
High, was the sun when I held him close
Low, was the moon when we said, "Adios"
Perdido
My heart ever since is Perdido
I know I must go to Torito
To find what I lost Perdido
High, was the sun when I held him close
Low, was the moon when we said, "Adios"
Perdido
Goodnight perdido
I lost perdido
The song "Perdido" by Harry James and His Orchestra is a classic example of a Latin American influenced jazz tune. The word perdido in Spanish means "lost" or "missing", which is reflected in the theme of the song. The singer is searching for their heart that they lost in a place called Torito during a fiesta where the Bolero was danced.
The Bolero is a Latin American dance that is characterized by a slow, smooth tempo that sometimes has an element of flirtation between the dancers. The singer reflects on dancing the Bolero and kissing someone wearing a sombrero, which led to them losing their heart. The lyrics indicate that the experience was so intense that the singer found themselves losing their heart to the rhythm of the music and the passion of the moment.
The song has a romanticized imagery of the Mexican culture that is often used as a backdrop in Hollywood films. The song's theme is one of nostalgia and yearning for a lost love. It speaks to the notion that sometimes people fall in love with a place or a memory and never quite recover from the loss of it. The use of Spanish phrases in the song adds to the romanticized portrayal of Latin America.
Line by Line Meaning
Perdido,
I am lost,
I look for my heart
I am seeking my heart,
It's perdido
It is lost,
I lost it way down in Torito
I lost it in Torito,
The day the fiesta started
It was the day the fiesta began,
Bolero,
While they played the Bolero,
I sway that they play the Bolero
I swayed while they played the Bolero,
I kissed me the listing sombrero
I kissed my sombrero,
And that's when my heart departed
That is when I lost my heart,
High, was the sun when I held him close
The sun was at its peak when I held him close,
Low, was the moon when we said, "Adios"
The moon was low when we said goodbye,
Perdido
I am lost,
My heart ever since is Perdido
My heart has been lost ever since,
I know I must go to Torito
I know I must go to Torito,
To find what I lost Perdido
To find what I have lost,
Goodnight perdido
Goodnight, I am lost,
I lost perdido
I lost it, I am lost.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JUAN TIZOL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BubbaTex
Listen to the entire Harry James Jazz Session album here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykf8lJ3u3Mk&list=PL0E0123v1zlOk4Kbjqx3ieic_2z8HCk96
Listen to the entire Harry James Snooty Fruity compilation album here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wag4w-BqwVc&list=PL0E0123v1zlOQuKzcrd2liNP8AkAlKbSk
Jorge Mario Rodas
I like this tune, the way the melody and tempo changes is great!
Jorge Mario Rodas
This one has a title in Spanish , perdido means lost. Great tune.
Jorge Mario Rodas
Sometimes I wonder, why can't we hear music like this, in most of the radios today? This is so superior to the crap, trying to pass off as music nowadays. Shame really.
BubbaTex
Maybe most of the listening public is perdido nowadays? 😉
Jorge Mario Rodas
@BubbaTex I think you are right. They do not know or appreciate the richness of this music. Regards and have a nice day 😄
BubbaTex
@Jorge Mario Rodas You have a great day too, and thanks for all the comments!