Tommy Dorsey

Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey in The Fabulous Dorseys
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Francis Dorsey, Jr.
Born	(1905-11-19)November 19, 1905 Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 26, 1956(1956-11-26) (aged 51) Greenwich, Connecticut
Genres	Big band, swing, jazz
Occupation(s)	Bandleader, trombonist, conductor
Instruments	Trombone, trumpet, cornet
Years active	1920s–1956
Labels	RCA Victor, Brunswick Decca, OKeh, Columbia
Associated acts	The California Ramblers, Jimmy Dorsey, Jean Goldkette, Paul Whiteman, Frank Sinatra, The Pied Pipers, Buddy DeFranco, Buddy Rich, Jo Stafford, Connie Haines, Glenn Miller, The Boswell Sisters, Dick Haymes, Gene Krupa, Sy Oliver, Nelson Riddle

Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", because of his smooth-toned trombone playing. His technical skill on the trombone gave him renown among other musicians. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey. After Dorsey broke with his brother in the mid-1930s, he led an extremely popular and highly successful band from the late 1930s into the 1950s. He is best remembered for standards such as "Opus One", "Song of India", "Marie", "On Treasure Island", and his biggest hit single "I'll Never Smile Again".

Thomas Francis Dorsey, Jr., was born in Mahanoy Plane, Pennsylvania, the second of four children born to Thomas Francis Dorsey, Sr., a bandleader himself, and Theresa (née Langton) Dorsey. He and Jimmy, his older brother by slightly less than two years, would become famous as the "Dorsey Brothers". The two younger siblings were Mary and Edward (who died young). Tommy Dorsey initially studied the trumpet with his father, only to later switch to the trombone.

At age 15, Jimmy recommended Tommy as the replacement for Russ Morgan in the 1920s territory band "The Scranton Sirens." Tommy and Jimmy worked in several bands, including those of Tal Henry, Rudy Vallee, Vincent Lopez, Nathaniel Shilkret. In 1923, Dorsey followed his brother Jimmy to Detroit to play in Jean Goldkette's band and later returned to New York in 1925 to play with the California Ramblers. In 1927 he joined Paul Whiteman. In 1929, the Dorsey Brothers had their first hit with "Coquette" for OKeh records.

In 1934, the Dorsey Brothers band signed with Decca records, having a hit with "I Believe In Miracles". Future bandleader Glenn Miller was a member of the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1934 and 1935, composing "Annie's Cousin Fanny", "Tomorrow's Another Day", "Harlem Chapel Chimes", and "Dese Dem Dose", all recorded for Decca, for the band. Ongoing acrimony between the brothers, however, led to Tommy Dorsey's walking out to form his own band in 1935, just as the orchestra was having a hit with "Every Little Moment." Dorsey's orchestra was known primarily for its renderings of ballads at dance tempos, frequently with singers such as Jack Leonard and Frank Sinatra.