Harry James Band sheet music and scores
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Scope and Contents
This collection consists of the original orchestral scores and sheet music for big band leader Harry James' band. James was a part of Benny Goodman’s band before forming his own band in 1939. His career as a trumpeter and big band leader spanned six decades and included collaborations with Frank Sinatra, Betty Grable, Buddy Rich, Sam Donahue, Juan Tizol, Louie Bellson, Neal Hefti, Ernie Wilkins and Rob Turk.
Dates
- Creation: 1939 - 1975
Creator
- Devenport, Frank (Composer, Person)
- Rogers, Shorty (Arranger, Person)
- Jones, Thad (Composer, Person)
- Hefti, Neal (Arranger, Person)
- Holman, Bill (Composer, Person)
- Clayton, Buck (Composer, Person)
- Mandel, Johnny (Arranger, Person)
- James, Harry (Composer, Person)
- Williams, George (Arranger, Person)
- McDonald, Bruce (Arranger, Person)
- Armstrong, Lil Hardin (Composer, Person)
- Richards, Johnny (Arranger, Person)
- Matthias, Jack (Arranger, Person)
- Wilkins, Ernie (Arranger, Person)
- Redman, Don (Composer, Person)
- Conniff, Ray (Composer, Person)
- Segure, Roger (Arranger, Person)
- Heidt, Horace (Musician, Person)
- Albertine, Charles (Composer, Person)
- Gershwin, George, 1898-1937 (Composer, Person)
- Matlock, Matty (Arranger, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Music Library. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Music Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Biographical / Historical
Harry Haag James (1916-1983) was born on March 16, 1916, in Albany, Georgia. His father was a circus band master and his mother was a horse rider and trapeze artist. Harry’s first public performances were at the age of three as a drummer, and by the age of 12 he led his father’s band in performances. In 1936, James joined Benny Goodman’s band where he was a featured player. He left three years later at the age of 23 to form his own band. His career as a trumpeter and big band leader spanned six decades and included collaborations with Frank Sinatra, Betty Grable, Buddy Rich, Sam Donahue, Juan Tizol, Louie Bellson, Neal Hefti, Ernie Wilkins, and Rob Turk. He appeared in a number of films, with and without his band and trumpet. He was also well-known for his third marriage to Betty Grable. James died in Las Vegas on July 5, 1983.
Extent
102.188 Linear Feet (82 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists of the original orchestral scores and sheet music for big band leader Harry James' band.
Processing Information
This collection is unprocessed.
Subject
- Clooney, Rosemary (Singer, Person)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Harry James Band sheet music and scores
- Status
- Unprocessed
- Author
- Marissa Chavez and Sarah Jardini for History Associates Incorporated
- Date
- 2022 December
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the USC Libraries Music Library Repository
Doheny Memorial Library, G-24
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-1822 United States
music@usc.edu