Biography
Harry James was an American trumpeter, bandleader and actor. Born Harry Haag James on 15 March 1916 in Albany, Georgia, he began performing as a child with his parents' circus troupe before joining Ben Pollack's band in 1936 and Benny Goodman's orchestra the following year. He formed his own band, Harry James and His Music Makers, in 1939.
James appeared in films including How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), The Ladies Man (1961) and The Sting II (1983), often playing himself or a bandleader, and featured in archive footage in later compilations. He was married to actress Betty Grable from 1943 to 1965. He died on 5 July 1983 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
