Harry Haag James
1916 - 1983
Trumpet player and bandleader Harry James was
born in Albany, Georgia. His mother,
Maybelle Stewart Clark James, was a
star trapeze artist and his father,
Everette Robert James, the band leader for the
traveling Mighty Haag Circus. He began performing for the Might Haag Show
at the age of 4 as a contortionist. In 1923, the James family moved to Beaumont,
where young Harry showed an early affinity for music. He played drums by age
seven, and began taking trumpet lessons from his father when he was ten years
old. By age 12, he had bumped his dad from the lead spot and was playing trumpet
in the Christi Brothers Circus band. James was soon playing and touring with
various bands, most notably with Benny Goodman from 1937-38. James left Goodman
to form his own band, which debuted in February 1939. His band quickly earned a
large following, producing several best sellers throughout the 1940s. In 1943,
the popular musician married actress and wartime pin-up queen Betty Grabel-- the
first of four marriages for him. James continued to tour regularly in the 1950s,
then retired for a brief time before returning for special engagements in places
like Las Vegas and New York. In addition to his trumpet playing and band
leading, James has done soundtracks for numerous movies, and is considered a
pioneer in the jazz genre. Harry James died in Las Vegas on July 5, 1983 at age
67.
Harry wore long curls for the role of Cinderella in the circus spectacle. A mastoid operation rescued him from a career as a contortionist. (Indiana Evening Gazette 7-13-1943)