Harry Lawson

Harry Lawson, whose nickname in the big band heydays of the '30s and '40s was "Big Jim," celebrated his 99th birthday in 2003. Perhaps his longevity can be attributed to giving up playing trumpet, which he was forced to do in the late '50s due to problems with his teeth. He had already put in nearly four decades of professional music activity by the time his chops literally gave out, beginning as ...more