Isham Jones (January 31, 1894 – October 19, 1956) was a United States bandleader, violinist, bassist and songwriter.
Jones was born in Coalton, Ohio, and grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, where he started his first band. In 1915 he moved to Chicago, Illinois, which remained his base through 1924. After that he toured England before reestablishing himself in New York City.
The Isham Jones band made a series of popular gramophone records for Brunswick throughout the 1920s. He led one of the most popular dance bands in the 1920s and 1930s. His first successful recording, Wabash Blues written by Dave Ringle and Fred Meinken was recorded in 1921 by Isham Jones and his Orchestra. This million-seller stayed twelve weeks in the U.S. charts, six at No. 1[1]. Noted musicians who played in Jones' band included Louis Panico, Benny Goodman (although he did not make any records during the short time he was with them), Woody Herman, Walt Yoder, and Roy Bargy. "It Had to Be You" is a popular song written by Isham Jones with lyrics by Gus Kahn, and was first published in 1924.
The song was performed by Priscilla Lane in the 1939 film The Roaring Twenties and by.