Phil Harris

Although primarily recognized for his extensive acting career that began with a movie debut in 1933, Phil Harris also achieved success as a drummer and vocalist. During the 1930s he performed on drums alongside Francis Craig while fronting his personal ensembles, for which he selected "Rose Room" to serve as the signature tune. From 1936 through 1946 he appeared regularly on the radio program hosted by Jack Benny, then co-starred in a program alongside Alice Faye from 1947 to 1954. Several novelty recordings by Harris reached popular status throughout the 1940s and into the early 1950s. While his contributions to jazz remain modest, the ensembles he assembled in the 1930s featured talented players.