Tommy Dorsey biography

 

(1905 - 1956)

1.

Tommy was Jimmy Dorsey's older brother and the more tempermental of the two. Tommy Dorsey was generally blamed for the feuding between the two that eventually brought about the demise of the Dorsey Brothers band. As a youngster, Tommy Dorsey shared the same musical gift as his younger brother and was equally adept at both trumpet and his main instrument the trombone.

Tommy Dorsey was a hot player at heart, having recorded a few hot sides by 1927 and continueing to play with smaller ensembles throughout his career. During the 1930's after the break-up of the Dorsey Brothers band Tommy Dorsey formed his own group from the remnants of the old Joe Haymes' Orchestra.

During this period Tommy Dorsey also led a number of smaller hot groups that were formed with members of the big band. He also freelanced and played with a number of legendary jazzmen including Louis Armstrong, Mezz Mezzrow, George Wettling, Jack Teagarden, Red Allen, Eddie Condon and Pops Foster.

In 1953 the Dorsey Brothers reunited when Jimmy joined Tommy's band. From 1955-'56 the Brother had their own show on the CBS network STAGE SHOW thus giving them national wide coverage.

2.

Tommy Dorsey (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was a jazz trombonist and bandleader in the Big Band era.

Thomas Dorsey was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania and is the younger brother of Jimmy Dorsey.

Tommy Dorsey worked with many bands in the New York City area starting in the 1920s, including the bands of Rudy Vallee, Vincent Lopez, and Paul Whiteman. With brother Jimmy, he led the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra until they split up (with some acrimony) in 1935. The brothers also appeared as session musicians on many jazz recordings.

Tommy Dorsey formed his own band, which was very successful, scoring 137 Billboard chart hits, including his best-known song, I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (which showcases his phenomenal range, reaching up to the high C #). The band featured trumpeters Bunny Berigan and Charlie Shavers, arranger Sy Oliver, and singers Jo Stafford, Dick Haymes and Frank Sinatra. Sinatra achieved his first great success as a vocalist in the Dorsey band and claimed he learned breath control from watching Dorsey play trombone. Dorsey said his trombone style was heavily influenced by that of Jack Teagarden.

Tommy Dorsey married Jane New (1924?- August 24, 2003) in 1948 and she remained his wife until his death. She had previously been a dancer at the world-renowned Copacabana. After Dorsey's death, Jane obtained the rights to her late husband's band and renamed it The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, a group which continues to play to this day [1]. Jane died of natural causes at age 79.

In 1956, Tommy Dorsey died at age 51 in his Greenwich, Connecticut home in his sleep, choking on food. Dorsey was interred in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. Sinatra released a tribute album to Dorsey in 1961 entitled I Remember Tommy with arranger by Sy Oliver.

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Tommy Dorsey (November 19, 1905 - November 26, 1956) was a jazz trombonist and. Tommy and Jane Dorsey are interred together in Kensico Cemetery in.


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