The Dorsey Brothers were an American studio dance band, led by

Tommy Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...

and

Jimmy Dorsey James Francis Dorsey (February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader. He recorded and composed the jazz and pop standards " I'm Glad There Is You (In This World of Ordinary Peop ...

. They started recording in 1928 for OKeh Records.

History

The Dorsey Brothers recorded songs for the dime store labels (

Banner A banner can be a flag or another piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or another message. A flag whose design is the same as the shield in a coat of arms (but usually in a square or rectangular shape) is called a banner of arms. Als ...

, Cameo,

Domino Dominoes is a family of tile-based games played with gaming pieces, commonly known as dominoes. Each domino is a rectangular tile, usually with a line dividing its face into two square ''ends''. Each end is marked with a number of spots (also c ...

, Jewel, Oriole, Perfect). A handful of sides during their Brunswick period were issued by

Vocalion Vocalion Records is an American record company and label. History The label was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Company, a maker of pianos and organs, as Aeolian-Vocalion; the company also sold phonographs under the Vocalion name. "Aeolian" was ...

. They signed to

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in W ...

in 1934, formed a touring band, with Tommy as front man, and a rather unusual lineup of one trumpet, three trombones, three saxes and four rhythm. The band performed live mainly in the New England area, with acrimony between the brothers steadily building up, until a definitive falling out between Tommy and Jimmy over the tempo of "I'll Never Say Never Again Again" in May 1935, after which Tommy walked off the stage. Glenn Miller composed four songs for the Dorsey Brothers when he was a member in 1934 and 1935, " Annie's Cousin Fannie", on which both Tommy and Glenn share the rather racy vocal, "

Dese Dem Dose Dese Dem Dose is a 1935 instrumental composed by Glenn Miller and recorded by The Dorsey Brothers orchestra. ''Dese Dem Dose'' was recorded in New York on February 6, 1935, and was released as a 78 by The Dorsey Brothers on Decca paired with "Wear ...

", "

Harlem Chapel Chimes "Harlem Chapel Chimes" is a 1935 jazz instrumental composed by Glenn Miller. The song was released as an A-side 78 single by the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. Background The song was recorded by the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra on February 6, 1935, in ...

", and " Tomorrow's Another Day". Miller left in late 1934 to take up the job as

Ray Noble Raymond Stanley Noble (17 December 1903 – 2 April 1978) was an English jazz and big band musician, who was a bandleader, composer and arranger, as well as a radio host, television and film comedian and actor; he also performed in the United ...

's musical director and arranger. In 1935, the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra had two No. 1 recordings on Decca, including " Lullaby of Broadway" with

Bob Crosby George Robert Crosby (August 23, 1913 – March 9, 1993) was an American jazz singer and bandleader, best known for his group the Bob-Cats, which formed around 1935. The Bob-Cats were a New Orleans Dixieland-style jazz octet. He was the young ...

on vocals, topping the charts for two weeks and No. 1 for three weeks. Tommy Dorsey permanently left the orchestra in 1935 to take over the Joe Haymes band, turning it into Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra, with the nucleus of the Dorsey Brothers' Orchestra carrying on under Jimmy's leadership. Tommy's chair was filled by the 16-year-old Bobby Byrne. The Dorseys reunited on March 15, 1945, to record a

V-Disc V-Disc ( "V" for Victory) was a record label that was formed in 1943 to provide records for U.S. military personnel. Captain Robert Vincent supervised the label from the Special Services division. Many popular singers, big bands, and orches ...

Liederkranz Hall The Liederkranz of New York City is an organization devoted to cultural and social exchange as well as the sponsorship of musical events. Its activities are dedicated to the support, development and preservation of culture in New York City. Its obj ...

in New York City. Released in June 1945, the disc contained " More Than You Know" and "Brotherly Jump". The songs were performed by the combined orchestras of Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. They reunited again in 1947 for the film ''

The Fabulous Dorseys ''The Fabulous Dorseys'' is a 1947 musical biopic which tells the story of the brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, from their boyhood in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania through their rise, their breakup, and their personal reunion. The film was also rele ...

''. In 1950, Jimmy disbanded his orchestra and joined Tommy's band on a permanent basis. On May 23, 1953, the combined orchestra made its television debut on the ''

Jackie Gleason Show ''The Jackie Gleason Show'' is the name of a series of American network television shows that starred Jackie Gleason, which ran from 1952 to 1970, in various forms. ''Cavalcade of Stars'' Gleason's first variety series, which aired on the DuMon ...

.'' Starting in 1954, they had a network TV series, ''

Stage Show A theatrical production is any work of theatre, such as a staged play, musical, comedy or drama produced from a written book or script. Theatrical productions also extend to other performance designations such as Dramatic and Nondramatic theatre, a ...

'' produced by Jackie Gleason.

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

made his national television debut on their show in 1956.

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

, who as a fledgling alto sax player expressed an admiration for Jimmy, died in front of the TV while watching a Dorsey Brothers' show. When in November 1956 Tommy died in his sleep from choking on his own vomit, Jimmy, already desperately ill, carried on for some months with Tommy's silent trombone displayed on stage, until in June 1957 he succumbed to lung cancer. Jimmy and Tommy appeared as the Mystery Guests on the October 16, 1955 airing of ''

What's My Line? ''What's My Line?'' is a panel game show that originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent U.S. revivals. The game uses celebrity panelis ...

''. They were guessed by Dorothy Kilgallen. In 1996, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Jimmy Dorsey and Tommy Dorsey.

Notable releases

*" Coquette", 1928 *"Dixie Dawn", 1928 *" Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)", (vocal by Bing Crosby), 1929 *"Sally of My Dreams", 1929 *" Fine and Dandy", 1930 *"Ooh! That Kiss", 1932 *"Old Man Harlem", 1933 *"

I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" is a song recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra. The words were written by Ned Washington and the music was written by George Bassman. It was first performed in 1932. The original copyright is dated 1933 ...

", 1934; ''later used by Tommy Dorsey as his Theme Song after he formed his own band'' *"Lost in a Fog", 1934 *"

What a Diff'rence a Day Made "What a Diff'rence a Day Made", also recorded as "What a Difference a Day Makes", is a popular song originally written in Spanish by María Grever, a Mexican songwriter, in 1934 with the title "Cuando vuelva a tu lado" ("When I Return to Your ...

", 1934 *"

You're the Top "You're the Top" is a Cole Porter song from the 1934 musical '' Anything Goes''. It is about a man and a woman who take turns complimenting each other. The best-selling version was Paul Whiteman's Victor single, which made the top five. It was th ...

", 1934 *" Annie's Cousin Fannie", 1934, Brunswick and Decca versions, composed and arranged by Glenn Miller *" Tomorrow's Another Day", 1935, composed and arranged by Glenn Miller *"

", 1935, composed and arranged by Glenn Miller *"Chasing Shadows", 1935, No. 1 *"Every Little Moment", 1935 *"Every Single Little Tingle of My Heart", 1935 *"I'll Never Say Never Again Again", 1935 *"I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'", 1935 *"

", 1935, composed and arranged by Glenn Miller *"Lullaby of Broadway", 1935, No. 1 *"Night Wind", 1935 *" Solitude", 1935 *"The Gentlemen Obviously Doesn't Believe (In Love)", 1935 *"Tiny Little Fingerprints", 1935 *"You Are My Lucky Star", 1935

Members

Mildred Bailey Mildred Bailey (born Mildred Rinker; February 27, 1907 – December 12, 1951) was a Native American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Queen of Swing", "The Rockin' Chair Lady" and "Mrs. Swing". She recorded the songs " For Sentimenta ...

(vocals) *

Bunny Berigan Roland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan (November 2, 1908 – June 2, 1942) was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader who rose to fame during the swing era. His career and influence were shortened by alcoholism, and ended with his early demise at the ...

(trumpet) *

Artie Bernstein Arthur Bernstein (February 4, 1909 – January 4, 1964) was an American jazz double bassist. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he started his musical career playing cello on board cruise ships to South America, and also studied law at New York Univers ...

(string bass) * Buzz Brauner (tenor sax) * Bing Crosby (vocal) *

(vocal) * Skeets Herfurt (alto sax) * Roc Hillman (guitar) * Alberta Hunter (vocals) * Stan King (drums) * Mannie Klein (trumpet) *

Carl Kress Carl Kress (October 20, 1907 – June 10, 1965) was an American jazz guitarist. Music career Kress started on piano before picking up the banjo. Beginning in 1926, he played guitar during his brief period in Paul Whiteman's orchestra. For most ...

(guitar) * Eddie Lang (guitar) * Don Matteson (trombone) * Johnny Mercer (vocals) * Leo McConville (trumpet) *

Dick McDonough Richard Tobin McDonough (July 30, 1904 – May 25, 1938) was an American jazz guitarist and banjoist. Perhaps best remembered for his duets with fellow guitarist Carl Kress, McDonough appeared on numerous record sessions and radio broadcasts thr ...

(guitar) * Fulton McGrath (piano) *

Ray McKinley Ray McKinley (June 18, 1910 – May 7, 1995) was an American jazz drummer, singer, and bandleader. He played drums and later led the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra in Europe. He also led the new Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1956. ...

(drums) * Glenn Miller (trombone, arranger) *

Chauncey Morehouse Chauncey Morehouse (March 11, 1902 – October 31, 1980) was an American jazz drummer. Biography Morehouse was born in Niagara Falls, New York, United States, and was raised in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where he played drums from a very early ...

(drums) *

Phil Napoleon Phil Napoleon (born Filippo Napoli; 2 September 1901 – 1 October 1990) was an early jazz trumpeter and bandleader born in Boston, Massachusetts. Ron Wynn observed that Napoleon "was a competent, though unimaginative trumpeter whose greatest val ...

(trumpet) * Adrian Rollini (bass sax) *

Arthur Schutt Arthur Schutt (November 21, 1902 – January 28, 1965) was an American jazz pianist and arranger. Schutt was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States, and learned piano from his father. He accompanied silent films as a teenager in the 1910 a ...

(piano) * Frank Schumacher (clarinet, tenor sax) * Glenn Stainer (tenor Sax) *

Frank Signorelli Frank Signorelli (May 24, 1901 – December 9, 1975) was an American jazz pianist. Biography Signorelli was born to an Italian Sicilian family in New York City, New York. Signorelli was a founding member of the Original Memphis Five in 1917, ...

(piano) *

Charlie Spivak Charlie Spivak (February 17, 1907 – March 1, 1982) was an American trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his big band in the 1940s. Early life The details of Spivak's birth are unclear. Some sources place it in Ukraine in 1907, and that h ...

(trumpet) * Jack Stacey (tenor sax) * Joe Tarto (brass bass) *

Jack Teagarden Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905 – January 15, 1964) was an American jazz trombonist and singer. According to critic Scott Yannow of Allmusic, Teagarden was the preeminent American jazz trombone player before the bebop era of the 19 ...

(trombone) * George Thow (trumpet) * Bobby van Eps (piano) * Joe Venuti (violin) *

Mae West Mae West (born Mary Jane West; August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American stage and film actress, playwright, screenwriter, singer, and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned over seven decades. She was known for her breezy ...

(vocals) *

Joe Yukl Joseph William Yukl (March 5, 1909 – March 16, 1981) was an American jazz trombonist. Early life Yukl learned to play violin before switching to trombone as a teenager. Career Yukl relocated to New York City in 1927, where he took a posit ...

(trombone)

References

External links

*
Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
Red Hot Jazz Archive
Dorsey Brothers Orchestra recordings
at the Discography of American Historical Recordings. {{DEFAULTSORT:Dorsey Brothers, The American jazz ensembles from New York City Big bands Musical groups from Pennsylvania Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania