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Chuck Par-Due

Chuck Par-Due is a trumpet player in the Harry James tradition, and Sinatra-styled vocalist

About Me

Chuck Par-Due can trace big moments of his life — his passion for big band music, his trumpet playing, even his marriage — in part to Harry James, the late great trumpet player and big band leader.

Par-Due was a 14-year-old growing up in Miami in the 1960s when he decided to become a musician. He announced to his father, himself a band leader,”that I would rather play the trumpet or die,” Par-Due recalls, laughing.

But Par-Due couldn’t afford trumpet lessons, so he wrote a letter to Harry James. James’ secretary, Viola Monte, wrote back and started sending sheet music, a Harry James model trumpet, mouthpieces and other goodies to the young teen. She also sent itineraries of the band leader’s tours. So it was that whenever the Harry James Orchestra played anywhere near Par-Due’s home, the kid went to see the band, and James became the young teen’s friend and mentor.

In 1979, Par-Due — now in his mid-20s — spent two days with the band in St. Louis. He noticed the pretty young singer whom James had just hired — her name was Cheryl Morris — but they didn’t have a chance to get acquainted. “I stood within 6 feet of Cheryl and never met her,” Par-Due recalls.

Fast-forward 30 years: Par-Due joined the Harry James Appreciation Group on Facebook (he’s now the group administrator) and saw a message from the same Cheryl Morris, who had gone on to sing with the Harry James Orchestra for 11 years. The rest of 2009 was a whirlwind: The two became Facebook friends, pen pals, cell phone pals. Par-Due came to visit Morris in Portland; five days later, they got engaged. Six weeks later they married. ChuckPar-Due is a singer/trumpet player who has been playing for seniors for over 40 years. His vocals are in the Frank Sinatra style, and his trumpet playing is in the Harry James style. Chuck has performed my Sinatra tribute all across America– he has played for Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford and George Bush I! On occasion, his wife Cheryl Morris, sings with him. She is a former vocalist with the Harry James Orchestra. They will remind you of singing greats Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme!

My Jazz Story

My father was a musician/band leader in the 1940's, and I grew up listening to Big Band Jazz. I met Harry James when I was 16, and we became friends. He was my mentor. The first concert I attended was Harry James live in Pompano Beach, Florida in 1973. The first jazz record I bought was Harry James Live at the Riverboat.