In the 1920s and 1930s, swing music, a subgenre of jazz, had emerged to capture the hearts and dancing feet of music fans. This period was distinguished by the inception of famous swing vocalists. Dick Haymes was a stupendous ballad singer of the late 1930s and 1940s. His deep baritone voice had enriched the Swing music without a doubt. Apart from his promising singing career, Haymes also embarked on the journey of being an actor. Needless to say, he garnered prodigious accolades for both his singing and acting skills.
Although the Swing era emerged against a gloomy background of economic depression and political instability, the period stimulated incredible music creativity, bolstered by radio broadcasts and record sales. Big Band music in the USA became famous and its soaring popularity inspired future swing musicians to hone and pitch their musical skills to different talent agencies and band leaders. Let us find out how Dick Haymes climbed the ladder of success during the heyday of Jazz and Swing.
Birth and early childhood- In 1916, Haymes was born in the South American nation of Argentina. His paternal side was a mix of Scottish and Irish, while Haymes’ mother was of Irish descendent. She was a singer and music teacher and it does not take a genius to guess that Haymes, the renowned ballad singer of the 1940s, inherited his impeccable singing talent from his mother. Despite being Argentinean-born, Haymes grew up in the United States and went on to pursue his career in music there.
Haymes’ singing collaboration with big bands- The Swing Era was noted for the rise of many talented big bands. Haymes strived to showcase his song writing skills to eminent band leaders of the time. As a result of an unexpected turn of fate, Haymes was selected by Harry James to become the James band’s featured vocalist, which was the first and most important break of Haymes’ career. Their collaboration created masterpieces like “I’ll Get By” and “Tempo Deluxe” that are still played on big band radio in the US. Haymes also sang with the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. His successful associations with renowned bands of that time fuelled Hayme’s confidence to launch his solo career.
Radio program and recording- Dick Haymes started off a radio program called “The Dick Haymes Show”. The program was initially aired on the NBC, later on it would premier on the CBS network as well. Apart from tasting success in his radio venture, Haymes secured recording contracts with Jack Kapp’s Decca Records. Even Twentieth Century Fox movie studios expressed its intent to back Haymes’ musical prowess. With lucrative offers at his disposal, Haymes went on a recording spree to gift his fans phenomenal compositions like “For You, For Me, Forever More”, “The More I See You”, “Another Night Like This” and several more. These musical pieces are cherished to this day. No wonder big band radio stations do not grow tired of playing these classics for their listeners.
Acting career- The singer created uproar in the 1940s with his commendable acting skills. Haymes starred in “State Fair”, “The Shocking Miss Pilgrim”, and “All Ashore”, some of the greatest cinematic hits. The charismatic actor paired with leading actresses- Jeanne Crain, Betty Grable, Vivian Blain, and Ava Gardener to create unforgettable movies.
Tumultuous personal life- During the wartime, Haymes received backlash for upholding his Argentinian identity, which was aimed at avoiding military conscription. Despite his success on the professional front, Haymes led a tumultuous personal life. His marriage life was far from being a steady one. Haymes married six times and fathered six offspring. The singer also encountered financial difficulties that pushed him to bankruptcy in the 1960s. By and large, Haymes failed to reinvigorate his lost fame post-1950s. It was in 1980 that Dick Haymes passed away. He was suffering from lung cancer at the time of his death.
Conclusion- The Swing Era of the 1930s and 1940s ushered in the phenomenon of big band music in the USA. Famous big band leaders noticed Dick Haymes’ talents and gave him the well-deserved break. From starting his radio program to recording million-sellers to pursuing a career in acting, Haymes reached the pinnacle of fame. Although his popularity fizzled out later on due to adverse publicities, yet the singer-cum-actor should be remembered for being a storehouse of versatile talent.
