"I'm Beginning to See the Light" Harry James Live w/Cathy Chemi Sept 1970

"I'm Beginning to See the Light" is a popular song and jazz standard, with music written by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, and Harry James and lyrics by Don George and published in 1944.

Famed alto sax player Johnny Hodges was the primary creator of the melody. Duke Ellington gave shape to the tune, and Don George wrote the lyrics. (George was also the writer of "The Yellow Rose of Texas.)

By 1944, Harry James was the most successful Big Band in the business. Ellington thought that if he could have Harry James record the song, it would be a huge money maker. Duke Ellington offered Harry James co-composer rights to the song if he would record it.

Harry commissioned the arranging genius Billy May to write the arrangement, which features some Ellington-like voicing in the reed section behind the vocal.

The recording by Harry James and his Orchestra, with lead vocals by Kitty Kallen, reached No. 1 for two weeks in January 1945. James' version also reached No. 7 on Billboard's Second Annual High School Survey in 1945.

Corky Corcoran played a short tenor sax solo, which he repeated hundreds of times over the next thirty years.

James recorded "The Light" again in 1955, and 1969 with Helen Forrest on the vocal.

This live performance is from a concert in Copenhagen in September of 1970, with Cathy Chemi on the vocal.

Corky Corcoran repeats his signature solo.