James Scott Irving

James Irving, born “James Vaughn Finney” on January 30, 1930 was a man of many talents. As a young child James adopted the stage name "Jimmy Faye" and acted until he left the films in 1937. Upon his departure from film James developed a passion for music. He played the saxophone throughout his entire life with many big names in big band and jazz. He graduated from UCLA and passed the bar. He spent his career in the FBI and moved around a lot. He and his wife Patty had four beautiful children. James is currently retired and residing in Albuquerque NM.
Early life
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James Irving sas born in Portsmouth Ohio as “James Vaughn Finney” on January 30, 1930. He was born to Lucille Robinson and J. Vaughn Finney, both native Ohioans. Jimmy’s father Vaughn moved the family to Eagle Rock California for health reasons before Jimmy was 2 years old. His mother registered his sister LeVaughn and Jimmy at the Meglin Dance Studio in Hollywood California when he was 4. He was instructed in music, dance and voice. Jimmy adopted a stage name and became a child actor. Jimmy quit working in films at 7 years old after his father passed away from a brain tumor, and Lucille remarried to George Irving, a Lawyer in Glendale California. George Irving adopted Jimmy and he was renamed to James Scott Irving. James continued in Music and took up various instruments; piano, and drums and eventually landed on the alto saxophone. With many musicians in the service in WWII, by the age of 13, James was playing in big bands in Southern California, even hitch hiking to Lake Arrowhead for gigs. He continued to play throughout High School, and played throughout the LA with other jazz musicians including Chet Baker.
Child Star
Jimmy adopted a stage name: Jimmy Faye. Jimmy modeled clothing and auditioned for many roles as a 4-year-old and was selected out of 300 applicants to play the role of Little Pat Sweeney in the Million Dollar Baby produced by Monogram Studios. The picture was described by the Hollywood Citizen News as a picture about “a little boy who is forced by his parents to masquerade as a little girl in order to win a contest sponsored by a motion picture company seeking to find a new child star”. As reported in the Los Angeles Evening Record, “Jimmy showed marked tendencies toward dancing singing and acting and soon became one of the youngest star attractions appearing in various Meglin Kiddies revues and radio programs.” Jimmy “resented being cast as a girl”. Fox Registered protest with the Hayes office and with Monogram for the alleged kidding of Shirley Temple in the Million Dollar Baby. His Co Stars were Arlene Judge, Ray Walker and George E. Stone. He subsequently played the role of a boy in , as story by Damon Runyan, starring Jean Parker, Chester Morris, Leon Errol, and Vince Barnett.
Education
James spent a year in Junior College and then enlisted in the Army - and he was placed in the Army band. He was assigned to Fort Lee Virginia and his two-year enlistment was extended to three. James travel to NYC for R&R on occasional weekends to play jazz in the area. After being discharged, James continued his education at UCLA where he continued to play Jazz Saxophone, was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, and he obtained his degree in political science. James was married to Patty MacMillan, a talented big band singer, upon Graduation in 1954. Upon graduation, he also registered at the UCLA school of Law and Patty helped put James through Law School working at Rand Corporation. James graduated in 1957 and passed the bar in 1958. James and Patty had their first child Scott Irving in 1957.
Career
James joined the FBI in 1959 and trained in Quantico Virginia. In August 1959 James' second son Blake Irving was born. In October 1959 Jim and family were transferred to Albuquerque New Mexico. In the summer of 1960 James was transferred to a language school in Washington DC where he learned to speak Spanish fluently. In 1961 when his family lived in Alexandria VA and James was in Language School, Lisa Irving was born. In August 1961 Jim was transferred to San Juan Puerto Rico and was there during both the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bay of Pigs. Lori Irving was born in September 1962 . Jim was transferred to NYC in August 1964. His family moved to Raleigh North Carolina and then on to Nanuet NY 1964. The Irving family Moved to Thousand Oaks, CA in July 1966 after Patty was diagnosed and successfully treated for Cancer. Between 1971 and 72 Jim back and forth from Thousand Oaks California. Jim continued to play saxophone in jam sessions, and with various artists including Alvino Ray and the King family throughout his California years in the bureau. He became the senior resident agent for the Ventura and Santa Barbara counties until his retirement in 1980. He clerked for a local attorney during his last year in the FBI to familiarize himself to California State Law and he became a Deputy DA in 1980 and retired to Albuquerque NM in November 1990.
Current
James joined the University of New Mexico “A” traveling jazz band as the lead alto player in 1991 and played in various ensembles and big bands throughout his retirement in 2015 at the age of 85 when he decided to stop playing his horns due to physical ailments. James continues to live in Albuquerque New Mexico with Patty at this time of this writing.

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