Harry James Orchestra

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The Harry James Orchestra continues the tradition of mellow arrangements and fine rhythmic playing that first made it famous. Currently under the direction of James' lead trumpet virtuoso, Fred Radke, the orchestra continues to play worldwide in both major venues and special “invitation only” performances.

Fred Radke's style of playing is so similar to James’ that listeners often cannot discern the difference. With countless credits including The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Lennon Sisters, Connie Stevens, The Pied Pipers (and the list goes on and on), Radke is one of the few remaining original luminaries keeping the panache of that brilliant era alive.

“… flawless performances...”
               -- The Des Moines Register

“Close your eyes and you’ll believe that Harry and his band are here…”
              -- The Record, Orange, Texas

Harry James was eight years when he learned to play the trumpet, while sitting in with a circus band.  His parents were both circus performers, and by the time Harry was ten, he was performing trumpet solos and a contortionist act with a 65-year-old partner. When his parents retired to Beaumont, Texas, Harry began playing with area orchestras and bands and soon joined the famous Ben Pollack group. Big-Band-great, Benny Goodman, heard Harry James playing on a Pollack recording and hired him immediately.

After three successful years with the Goodman Band, Harry James decided to go out on his own. Goodman was so sure of Harry's talent that he provided financial backing, and Harry James and his Music Makers were formed.

James heard a singer in Englewood, New Jersey and was sufficiently impressed to offer him a job. Young Frank Sinatra recorded All or Nothing At All with the James Orchestra, and it became a million-record seller. Sinatra later joined the Tommy Dorsey Band.

During the successful years that followed, Harry James helped to launch the careers of many young singers, such as Connie Haines, Helen Forrest and Kitty Callen. His steady stream of hit recordings included I'll Get By, I Don't Want to Walk Without You, I Cried for You, I Had the Craziest Dream, and I've Heard That Song Before. In the 1940 Metronome poll, Harry James was voted "best hot trumpeter" and "best all-around trumpeter."

On July 5, 1943, Harry James married film star, Betty Grable. He became interested in movies and appeared in Best Foot Forward, Bathing Beauty, Two Girls and a Sailor, Springtime in the Rockies, I'll Get By if I'm Lucky, and many others, and served as technical advisor and played all the trumpet parts in Young Man with a Horn.

Since the death of Mr. James in 1983, the band has continued the tradition of mellow arrangements and fine rhythmic playing that first made it famous, and is now under the direction of Harry James' lead trumpet virtuoso, Fred Radke. The Harry

James Orchestra plays in the major venues of the United States, including many re-engagements in Las Vegas and Disneyland and tours extensively throughout the world.

Fred Radke, trumpeter, conductor, educator, recording artist, composer and arranger was born in Oakland, California, where he began playing trumpet professionally at age fifteen. By the time he was eighteen, he had worked with Marlene Dietrich, Burt Bacharach, and Johnny Mathis. He furthered his education by attending the College of San Mateo, and worked as featured guest trumpet soloist and musical director of The Lancers.

Fred Radke's career has included touring as lead trumpeter with the Harry James Orchestra and with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, led by Ray McKinley. Harry James wrote of Mr. Radke, "Fred has gained an outstanding reputation throughout the United States and Canada as a great trumpet soloist, conductor, and educator of music." It has been noted that Fred Radke's style of trumpet playing is so similar to Mr. James that listeners often cannot discern the difference. He was the first choice to lead The Harry James Orchestra because of his unique talents and broad area of expertise.

Fred Radke has recorded with Harry James, Gina Funes and his own band. He has appeared on the CBS, NBC, ABC, and CBC television networks and has performed for such heads of state as President Richard Nixon and Olaf, King of Norway. He was lead trumpeter for Leslie Uggams, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Johnnie Ray, Phil Harris, The Modernaires, The Pied Pipers, Earl Grant, The Lennon Sisters, Connie Stevens, Pat Boone, Edie Adams and Rich Little. The Seattle Symphony Orchestra has featured him as a guest soloist.

Radke currently resides in Mercer Island, Washington, where he is a full-time member of the music faculty at North Seattle Community College and is musical director for the Four Seasons Olympic Hotel in Seattle.

FRED RADKE

FRED RADKE is a trumpeter supreme, big band conductor, musical clinician and educator, recording artist, composer and arranger, and music consultant and producer. In his sixteenth year as the Seattle Four Seasons Olympic Hotel's Musical Director, and house big-band leader, starring singing artist Gina Funes. Fred and Gina have captivated hordes of big-band music fans and audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada, and in glamorous ballrooms across the continent. Fred has made six tours to the Far East and has appeared in leading hotel ballrooms and nightclubs throughout the United Slates and Canada.

FRED RADKE'S MUSICAL BACKGROUND: Born in Oakland, California, Fred started playing his trumpet professionally at fifteen. By the lime he was eighteen, he had not only led a major steamship line's band during many criss crossings of the Pacific, but had also worked with Marlene Dietrich (with Burt Bacharach conducting) and Johnny Mathis. He furthered his education by attending the College of San Mateo and was featured as guest trumpet soloist and musical director for "The Lancers".

Radke's career includes touring with the famous Harry James Orchestra as lead trumpet He has also played lead trumpet for the Glen Miller Orchestra, led by Ray McKinnley, and appeared in the same role with Leslie Uggams, The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Johnny Ray, Phil Harris, The Modernaires, Jack Jones, The Pied Pipers, Earl Grant, The Lennon Sisters, The King Family, Dennis Day, Connie Stevens, Pat Boone, Edie Adams, Anita O'Day, Rich Little, An Lund, Ella Fitzgerald, Connie Haines and Mel Torme. The Seattle Symphony has featured him as guest soloist.

Fred has recorded with Harry James, Gina Funes, and his own 15-piece band, and has appeared on the CBS, NBC, ABC and CBC television networks. Also, he has performed for such heads of state as President Richard M. Nixon, President Ronald Reagan, President George Bush, Olaf, King of Norway. He produced and appeared in shows starring Frank Sinatra Jr., Giselle McKenzie, The Modernaires, Dennis Day, Frankie Lane. Kay Starr, Helen Forest, Connie Stevens, Rich Little and Gina Funes. In addition, Fred was musical director for television shows starring Frankie Lane, Helen Forrest, The Modernaires and Kay Starr.

OTHER MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS: Over the last twenty years, Radke has also produced shows for many conventions at major hotels throughout the United States and Canada, providing his own popular big band. For one and half years he produced the popular "Let's Dance" live radio show on Friday nights for Seattle radio station KIXI, whose theme is the "The Music You Remember".

OTHER GUEST APPEARANCES: As a full time instructor of Jazz Studies at North Seattle Community College during the past twenty-five years, and as an authority on big-band history, Radke has toured extensively as guest trumpet soloist and lecturer on the an of playing the trumpet and the history of jazz The Getzen Company, of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, makes his trumpets and has included him as on of their featured artist in music trade shows.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES: Over the past twenty-five years, Fred Radke has been a driving force in keeping jazz alive in the Pacific Northwest. As mentioned above, he is the Musical Director and house bandleader for the Four Seasons Olympic Hotel, the Four Seasons Maui Resort Hotel and The Four Seasons Hotel in New York. He has also provided the entertainment for Four Seasons Hotels in Washington D.C., Philadelphia and the Ritz Carlton in Chicago. He is a member of the College Foundation Board, which raises funds for college scholarships. Fred was recently the recipient of the Honored 1988 National Music Expression "Public Service Award" by the Evergreen Safety Council. In 1994, The Director of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, bestowed the title of "Honorary Chief Petty Officer Musician" for providing countless hours of entertainment and service to the Unites Stales Navy.

In early 1989, Fred Radke was asked by the Harry James Estate and Columbia Artists to lead the Harry James Orchestra for the 50th Anniversary of Harry James, where they performed seventy-one concerts throughout the United States, and in 1990, led the orchestra for Vie Damone and Diahann Carroll on a coast-to-coast tour. In 1993 the band was featured on the Crown Odyssey for their yearly Big Band cruise. In 1994-95, Fred lead a Tribute to Harry James in a battle of the Big Bands on a International Tour.

In 1997, The Fred Radke Orchestra was the headliner act for the final cruise of the Rotterdam for Holland American Lines. In 1998 Fred lead the Harry James Orchestra for a coast-to-coast tour performing 75 concerts for Columbia Artists, and a cruise on the ship Amsterdam from the United States to Japan.

Fred is also a member of the American Society of Composers, Arrangers, and Publishers (ASCAP). While busy with foregoing activities, he is an avid outdoorsman. Daily jogging helps keep him in shape.  Besides being a fly fishing enthusiast Fred, along with his wife, Gina, enjoy downhill skiing in both North America and Europe. He has lived in the Seattle area since 1966 and loves the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

[Click Here - Harry James Orchestra Web Site]