Phil harris sons

Wonga Philip Harris June 24, — August 11, was an American actor, bandleader, entertainer and singer. He was an orchestra leader and a pioneer in radio situation comedy, first with The Jack Benny Program , then in The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show in which he co-starred with his wife, singer-actress Alice Faye , for eight years. Harris is also noted for his voice acting in animated films.

Phil harris children

As a singer, he recorded a number one novelty hit record, "The Thing" Harris was born in Linton, Indiana on June 24, , [ 1 ] but grew up in Nashville, Tennessee , [ 2 ] and identified himself as a Southerner. His parents were circus performers. His father, a tent bandleader, gave him his first job as a drummer with the circus band.

His unusual first name "Wonga," is said to derive from a Cherokee word meaning "messenger of fleet" or, perhaps more accurately translated, "fast messenger. He formed an orchestra with Carol Lofner in the latter s [ a ] and started a long engagement at the St. Francis Hotel.

Phil harris deadliest catch wife

The partnership ended by , and Harris led a band in Los Angeles for which he was the singer and bandleader. He followed with a feature-length film, Melody Cruise. Both films were created by the same team that produced Flying Down to Rio , which started the careers of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Here he played a house painter who gets amnesia, then starts to lead a band.

His nickname was "Old Curly. He made a cameo appearance in the Warner Bros. Both films also featured Eddie "Rochester" Anderson.