Harry James was one of the most popular and influential trumpet players of the big band era. He led his own orchestra for over four decades and was known for his technical proficiency, expressive tone, and charismatic personality. He also had a successful career as an actor, appearing in several films that featured his band. But how did Harry James die and what was his cause of death?
Early Life and Career
Harry James was born on March 15, 1916, in Albany, Georgia, to circus performers. He learned to play the drums at age four and the trumpet at age eight, and by age twelve he was leading the second band in the circus. He started playing in local dance bands when he was 15 and joined Ben Pollack’s orchestra in 1935. He became famous as a member of Benny Goodman’s orchestra from 1936 to 1938, where he formed part of the “powerhouse trio” of trumpeters. He also composed and arranged some of the band’s best swing numbers, such as “Life Goes to a Party”.
In 1939, he left Goodman and established his own orchestra, using the European folk song “Chiribiribin” as his theme song. He had his first hit with “Music Makers” in 1941 and became one of the most successful bandleaders of the 1940s. He hired some of the finest musicians and singers of the time, including Frank Sinatra, who sang with him for six months in 1939. He also developed a distinctive style of playing, incorporating elements of classical, jazz, and blues music. He was known for his virtuosic technique, high notes, and vibrato.
Personal Life and Film Career
Harry James was married three times and had five children. His first wife was Louise Tobin, a singer who he married in 1935 and divorced in 1943. His second wife was Betty Grable, a famous actress and pin-up girl who he married in 1943 and divorced in 1965. His third wife was Joan Boyd, a Las Vegas showgirl who he married in 1967 and divorced in 1970.
James also had a successful film career, appearing in more than a dozen movies that usually featured his band. Some of his most notable films were Springtime in the Rockies (1942), Bathing Beauty (1944), Two Girls and a Sailor (1944), The Benny Goodman Story (1956), and The Opposite Sex (1956). He also played himself in The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show in 1958.
Harry James Cause of Death
Harry James died on July 5, 1983, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 67. His cause of death was lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. He had been diagnosed with the disease in 1981 and had undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He continued to perform until a few weeks before his death, despite his deteriorating health.
Harry James was buried at the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. His epitaph reads: “Harry James: Music Maker”. He is remembered as one of the greatest trumpet players and bandleaders of all time, and his music continues to inspire generations of fans and musicians.
