Phil Harris

Wonga Philip Harris (June 24, 1904 – August 11, 1995) was an American actor, bandleader, entertainer and singer.

As a voice actor, he played Baloo in The Jungle Book (1967), Thomas O'Malley in The Aristocats (1970), Little John in Robin Hood (1973), and Patou in Rock-a-Doodle (1991).

Harris was born in Linton, Indiana, on June 24, 1904,[1] but grew up in Nashville, Tennessee,[2] and identified himself as a Southerner.

"[4] Harris began his music career as a drummer in San Francisco, in the mid-1920s playing drums in the Henry Halstead Big Band Orchestra.

Both films were created by the same team that produced Flying Down to Rio, which started the careers of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

[7] Additionally, he appeared in The Wild Blue Yonder (1951), alongside Forrest Tucker and Walter Brennan.

He made a cameo appearance in the Warner Bros. musical, Starlift, with Janice Rule and Dick Wesson, and was featured in The High and the Mighty with John Wayne in 1954.

When Harris exhibited a knack for snappy one-liners, he joined the cast, portraying himself as a hip, hard-drinking Southerner whose good nature superseded his ego.

Many of his vocal recordings were comic novelty "talking blues," similar to the songs of Bert Williams, which are sometimes considered a precursor to rap.

In 1946, Harris and wife Alice Faye began co-hosting The Fitch Bandwagon, a comedy-variety program that followed the Jack Benny show on Sunday nights.

In On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio John Dunning wrote that Harris's character made the show popular.

[11] In 1989, he reprised his role as Baloo for the cartoon series TaleSpin, but after a few recording sessions he was replaced by Ed Gilbert.

Harris was a resident and benefactor of Palm Springs, California, and was active in many local civic organizations.

Harris and Faye donated most of their show business memorabilia and papers to Linton's public library.

Harris, Faye, and their two daughters, Alice and Phyllis, in 1948