Artist:Harry James
Song:You Made Me Love You
Album:Yes, Indeed!
Trumpeter Harry James was the second most popular bandleader in the early 40s after Glenn Miller. His 1941 recording of You Made Me Love You was a top five hit. He was born Mar. 15, 1916 in Albany, GA. His parents were in the Mighty Haag Circus. His father led the band and his mother was an acrobat. James performed in the circus as a child, first as a contortionist at age four and then playing drums in his dad's band. His dad taught him to play trumpet and by age 12 James was leading the band. After his family moved to Beaumont, TX. in 1924, James played local clubs while he was in high school. He joined Ben Pollock's band in 1935 and left in 1937 to join Benny Goodman's band in 1937. By 1939 it was time for James to start his own band. He hired Frank Sinatra to sing and they topped the charts in 1939 with All or Nothing At All. That was James first big hit for Columbia. After Sinatra left for Tommy Dorsey's band, Dick Haymes and then Helen Forrest were hired to sing. The 1941 single You Made Me Love You reached #5 on the Hit Parade. This was James first instrumental hit. You Made Me Love You was written by James V. Monaco and Joseph McCarthy for the 1913 Broadway show The Honeymoon Express. Al Jolson sang it in the show. Judy Garland memorably sang You Made Me Love You to a picture of Clark Gable in Broadway Melody of 1938. James' recording is in the Grammy Hall of Fame. James performed it in the 1942 film Private Buckaroo. James had great success until the end of WWII. He ended the band in 1947. This comp from the British label ASV has the original version of You Made Me Love. Beware of re-recordings. James dubbed Kirk Douglas' trumpet in the 1950 film Young Man with a Horn. He reformed his band in the 50s and performed as a nostalgia act until his death on July 5, 1983 at age 67. Here's Harry James featuring Helen Forrest performing You Made Me Love You in the 1942 film Private Buckaroo.
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