Harry Barris

Harry Barris

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1905-11-24
Deathday: 1962-12-13 (57 years old)

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Biography

Harry Barris (November 24, 1905 – December 13, 1962) was an American popular singer and songwriter. He was one of the earliest singers to use "scat singing" in recordings. Barris, one of Paul Whiteman's Rhythm Boys, along with Bing Crosby and Al Rinker, scatted on several songs, including "Mississippi Mud," which Barris wrote in 1927. Barris was born to Jewish parents in New York City. Gary Giddins described him as "small, wiry, and moon-faced with glittery eyes, and dark hair slicked back and parted in the middle." He was educated in Denver, Colorado. Barris became a professional pianist at the age of 14. He led a band which toured the Far East at the age of 17.Barris married Hazelle Thompson in 1925 and they had a daughter, Hazelle Barris, in 1926.

The same year, Barris played the piano and occasionally sang in Paul Ash's orchestra. In the same year, Al Rinker and Bing Crosby became members of Paul Whiteman's Orchestra as a singing duo. However, appearing at the vast New York Paramount in February 1927, where there were no microphones, they could not be heard by the audience. They were promptly dropped from the bill. However, a band member who knew Barris suggested that they add him to make a trio and The Rhythm Boys were formed in April 1927.In 1930, Barris divorced Hazelle Thompson. The Rhythm Boys left Paul Whiteman the same year and joined Gus Arnheim's Cocoanut Grove Orchestra. They made one more recording together, "Them There Eyes" (November 20, 1930), but the boys decided to quit in May 1931 and they went their separate ways. However, Barris changed his mind and returned to the Cocoanut Grove to complete his contract. Barris joined Arnheim's singing group The Three Ambassadors. Barris met Loyce Whiteman, who also sang with the Orchestra, and married her in 1931. They appear together in an episode of Rambling 'Round Radio Row. They had one daughter, Marti Barris, who also became a musician. They divorced in 1946.

Barris appeared in 57 films between 1931 and 1950, usually as a band member, pianist and/or singer. Seven of those films had Bing Crosby as the star. In 1932, Barris signed a contract to star in six shorts for Educational Pictures, similar to Bing Crosby's launch into films. The first of these shorts was That Rascal. In The Lost Weekend (1945), he is the nightclub pianist who humiliates Ray Milland by singing "Somebody Stole My Purse". An unusual change of pace for Barris was his comedy role in The Fleet's In (1942), as a runty sailor named Pee Wee who perpetrates malapropisms in a surprisingly deep voice.

During World War II, Barris, along with Joe E. Brown, went overseas to entertain troops.Barris had a lifelong drinking problem. In a fall, he fractured his hip in March 1961. Despite a series of operations, his condition deteriorated. He died in Burbank, California, aged 57. His composition "Never Been So Lost" was published shortly before his death.

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Filmography

all 39

Movies 39

self 2

Belhop (uncredited)
The Blue Dahlia

The Blue Dahlia (1946)

Movie
Officer's Club Pianist (Uncredited)
Young Widow

Young Widow (1946)

Movie
Pianist at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend

The Lost Weekend (1945)

Movie
5.14
Tipster in Barber Chair
The Great American Mug

The Great American Mug (1945)

Movie
Sailor Asking Joe to Get Autographs (uncredited)
Anchors Aweigh

Anchors Aweigh (1945)

Movie
Ivory
Steppin' in Society

Steppin' in Society (1945)

Movie
Happy Husband
Woo, Woo!

Woo, Woo! (1945)

Movie
Bandleader (uncredited)
Here Come the Waves

Here Come the Waves (1944)

Movie
Joe Wilson
Open Season for Saps

Open Season for Saps (1944)

Movie
Saxy
And the Angels Sing

And the Angels Sing (1944)

Movie
Bob
Is Everybody Happy?

Is Everybody Happy? (1943)

Movie
Actor
Better Not Roll Those Eyes

Better Not Roll Those Eyes (1942)

Movie
Harvey Erkimer
Priorities on Parade

Priorities on Parade (1942)

Movie
Midnight Club Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn (1942)

Movie
7.33
Actor
Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes

Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes (1942)

Movie
Pee Wee
The Fleet's In

The Fleet's In (1942)

Movie
Suds
Birth of the Blues

Birth of the Blues (1941)

Movie
Hot Dog Vendor
West Point Widow

West Point Widow (1941)

Movie
Musician (uncredited)
Blondie Goes Latin

Blondie Goes Latin (1941)

Movie
Bass Sax player
Rhythm on the River

Rhythm on the River (1940)

Movie
Harry, Piano Player
Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot (1939)

Movie
Pianist (Uncredited)
Trade Winds

Trade Winds (1938)

Movie
Bertie
The Shining Hour

The Shining Hour (1938)

Movie
Louie
Cowboy from Brooklyn

Cowboy from Brooklyn (1938)

Movie
Pinky - Band Pianist
Something to Sing About

Something to Sing About (1937)

Movie
Sing Orchestra Leader
Double or Nothing

Double or Nothing (1937)

Movie
Show Boat

Show Boat (1936)

Movie
1
Harry
Every Night at Eight

Every Night at Eight (1935)

Movie
Singer
Gentlemen of Polish

Gentlemen of Polish (1934)

Movie
Harry Barris - Pianist
Secret Sinners

Secret Sinners (1933)

Movie
Self - Pianist / Singer
Rambling 'Round Radio Row #2

Rambling 'Round Radio Row #2 (1932)

Movie
Actor
Now's the Time

Now's the Time (1932)

Movie
Actor
He's a Honey

He's a Honey (1932)

Movie
Actor
That Rascal

That Rascal (1932)

Movie
Music
The Tip-Off

The Tip-Off (1931)

Movie
William Appleton Shellingdon Pelt ('Wasp')
The Spirit of Notre Dame

The Spirit of Notre Dame (1931)

Movie
Rhythm Boys Member
Blue of the Night

Blue of the Night (1931)

Movie
Harry
Confessions of a Co-Ed

Confessions of a Co-Ed (1931)

Movie
Harry
Two Plus Fours

Two Plus Fours (1930)

Movie

Ratings

Average 5.17
Based on 89.3 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1930
1934
1941
1938
1946
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Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Male

Birthday
1905-11-24

Deathday
1962-12-13 (57 years old)

Birth Place
New York City, United States of America

Relationships
Loyce Whiteman (1931-01-01 - 1946-01-01)

Children
Marti Barris

Citizenships
United States of America

Also Known As
The Rhythm Boys


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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