Rhythm Boys
Rhythm Boys (left to right): Bing Crosby, Harry Barris, Al Rinker

Born

  • November 24, 1905
  • New York, NY

Died

  • December 13, 1962
  • Burbank, CA

Harry Barris

Singer, songwriter and actor Harry Barris became famous as a member of the Rhythm Boys, a vocal trio which also featured Bing Crosby and Al Rinker. Crosby and Rinker joined Paul Whiteman's orchestra as a duo in December 1926 but soon ran into trouble with audiences who were unable to hear them in theaters without electric amplification. Whiteman violinist Matty Malneck solved the problem by teaming them with Barris. Barris had written a song called "Mississippi Mud," and with the help of Malneck the trio turned it into a hit. They returned to the orchestra in March 1927 as "The Rhythm Boys" and became Whiteman's star attraction over the next three years.

By 1930 the trio's love for having a good time began to get in the way of their performances. Bing was arrested for drunken driving during the filming of the movie The King of Jazz, featuring Whiteman and his orchestra. It was the last straw for the bandleader, who released the trio after the completion of the film. They soon found a job, however, with Gus Arnheim's group at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles. Arnheim began pushing Bing to the forefront as a soloist, and in January 1931 Bing recorded his first solo hit, ''I Surrender Dear,'' written by Barris.

Increasingly, crowds came to hear Bing, and the Rhythm Boys as a group receded to the background. As Bing's career took off he began to skip performances at the club. The manager docked his pay and Bing walked out in protest, taking the Rhythm Boys with him. The manager persuaded the local musicians' union to ban the trio for breach of contract, and the Rhythm Boys were forced to dissolve. Barris went on to sing for Jimmie Grier. He later become a successful songwriter and played roles in several films.