James Bant Hanson (1904 - 1973)

Born 17 Dec 1904 in Bath Maine

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Constance Mulvany — married 23 Nov 1925 (to 1953) in Dover, New Hampshire

Descendants

Died 7 Apr 1973 at age 68 in Lewiston Maine

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mary Kopsick [send private message]

Beginnings

James Bant Hanson was born in Bath Maine on December 17, 1904, the son of Henry Hanson Sr. and his wife Margaret Houston Love.

“Jimmie” was one of 4 children along with older Brother Dr. Henry Hanson MD, older sister Margaret Evangeline Hanson (Weatherbee), and younger sister Lillian Palmer Hanson (Hulit).

Personal

On November 23, 1925, in Dover New Hampshire, James married his college sweetheart Margaret Constance Mulvaney (who shared his love of music).

They lived in Quincy and then Paisley Massachusetts for several years. They soon had filled their home with 2 sons and 4 daughters.

Their children were: James B. Hanson II, Henry Richard Hanson, Margaret “Marga” Love Hanson (McKenna), Christina (George), Hildegarde “Scottie” Lillian (Kopsick) and Johanna (Sokol)

They moved to New York and then the family home was in Lynnbrook and then in Oceanside on Long Island. One of those daughters, Marga went on to be a famous harpist, performing with the New York Philharmonic and famous recording artists before cancer cut her down while she when she was 24. All six Hanson children grew up to love music and carried their parents legacy into their own families.

James and Margaret divorced in 1953. He married Barbara (Nutting) Harmon on October 18, 1953. He helped raise her two children, Judy and Phil.

Jim and Barb went on to have 3 children: Eric James, Weltha Lou, and Edward Nutting. In 1960 the family moved from Portland to Poland, where Jim and Barbara hoped to start a Music Camp on Tripp Lake. They purchased 66 acres including several right on the shores of the lake, but the financial challenges proved too much and the camp was never founded.

Jim died nine months after retiring on April 3, 1973, at age 68.

Music Biography

James attended the University of Maine in Orono after graduating from Morse High School in Bath. (class of 1922). He then pursued a career in music performance as a trumpet man, arranger, conductor, and talent scout.

In Boston in the early 30s he adopted the stage name Ted and his own dance orchestra found a home in the Normandie Ballroom in Boston. Eventually they were broadcasting live on a whole network of radio stations around New England. (The Yankee Network) He also had a stint in Henry Bussee’s orchestra as a trumpet player in the late 20s.

Jim went on to join fellow Mainer Rudy Vallee in the later 30s through the early 40s, playing as solo trumpet artist in his band “The Connecticut Yankees” during the years when Rudy’s radio program was consistently #1 on the air. There were many top hit records too. (During the worst of the depression, Rudy kept several record companies from doing bankrupt.) Jim’s playing became nationally famous and he was featured in national advertisements for the Conn Symphony Special trumpet in those days.

When Rudy went to Hollywood, Jim stayed East and joined Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians. He was with them during their top years in live performances, & radio and Television work. Jim also moon lighted with New York City’s famous Roxy Theater in those days, scouting, arranging, and managing various musical groups. He did some arranging for the Pennsylvanians too, along with his day in and day out trumpet playing.

Then Jim secured a steady job teaching high school choral and band music in both Falmouth High and Greely High of Cumberland. he taught at Falmouth through ’64, and at Greely through ’66. During the fifties and into the sixties, he also led the Jimmie Hanson Orchestra (big band) based in the Portland area.

Jim took two years off from teaching music to be the recreation director for the Poland Spring Job Corps facility from 1966-68. Then he took a position doing the choral and band music for three Auburn Schools (Webster Jr. High, Walton Jr. High, and Central 6th grade school) He taught at these 3 until his retirement in 1972. During this period he also fronted the Jimmie Hanson Trio, as the orchestra had disbanded due to lack of work. They played virtually every week end. (Almost all larger dance orchestras disbanded during those years.)

For Maine’s sesquicentennial n 1970, Governor Kenneth Curtis commissioned Jim to write, arrange, and conduct (symphonic band and choir) a “Salute to Maine”. This went very well, though it was a huge amount of work.

Jim also taught at New England Music Camp all summer in ’69, partially fulfilling his Music Camp dream.