Harry James, premier trumpet virtuoso, Jazz superstar and Big Band leader performs his arrangement of the Rimsky-Korsokov classic, FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE, in this clip from the hit MGM musical, BEST FOOT FORWARD. The popular bandleader and trumpet star was prominently featured with his band in this film along with Lucille Ball, June Allyson, Nancy Walker and Tommy Dix. Harry James was probably the most famous trumpeter of the twentieth century due to his many hit records, feature films and big band tours across the United States, Europe and Latin America throughout the 1940's, '50's, '60's and '70's. He performed up to the very end playing a Los Angeles concert date one week before he died, July 5, 1983 at age 67. Most of the major trumpeters of the last 50 years consider James to have been one of their major influences both for style and technique.
