Jimmy Dorsey

Jimmy Dorsey

Source: Wikipedia

Jimmy Dorsey was brother to Tommy Dorsey with whom he began his career in the early twenties and led an orchestra for about seven years before separating to run each their own organizations. Jimmy was the elder by nearly two years, born on 29 February 1904 in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. Jimmy manned reeds, largely clarinet, while Tommy played mostly trombone though also trumpet. They began their recordings careers together in the Scranton Sirens Orchestra in May of 1923 in NYC: 'Three O'Clock in the Morning' and 'Fate' [Lord]. Those were for the Sirens label before they grooved titles for Victor with the Jean Goldkette Orchestra, their first session on March 27, 1924 to lay up 'In the Evening', 'Where the Lazy Daises Grow', 'My Sweetheart' and 'It's the Blues'.

Continuing with Goldkette, the Dorseys began recording apart from one another in latter 1924. They both backed tracks with the Varsity Eight and the California Ramblers before Jimmy moved on with Red Nichols to the Goofus Five. Goofus was bass saxophonist, Adrian Rollini, also a member of the Varsity Eight and the California Ramblers.

Tommy recorded with Bix Beiderbecke and his Rhythm Jugglers in January of 1925 before joining Jimmy, Nichols and Rollini in the Little Ramblers.

The Dorseys began recording with the Sam Lanin Dance Orchestra together in June of 1925. They both sat in the Fred Rich Hotel Astor Orchestra, though on separate occasions. Jimmy continued onward with Goldkette and Fred Rich before working with Nichols again in latter 1926, now with the Red Heads, the Five Pennies, then the Arkansas Travelers in January 1927. Tommy meanwhile performed with Rollini in the Vagabonds in latter 1926 before he and Rollini moved on to Ted Wallace and his Orchestra in January of 1927.

'Washboard Blues'   Jimmy Dorsey (clarinet) w the Arkansas Travelers

Recorded 4 Jan 1927 in NYC   Harmony 332-H / Columbia C4L-18

Trumpet: Red Nichols   Trombone: Miff Mole   Alto sax: Fred Morrow

 Piano: Arthur Schutt   Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael / Irving Mills

Jimmy and Tommy backed Lanin's orchestra again before Jimmy moved on with a succession of ensembles from Frank Trumbauer's to Red & Miff's Stompers (Nichols and Miff Mole), the Charleston Chasers (Nichols and Mole), the Five Pennies (Nichols), the band of Miff Mole, the Six Hottentots (Nichols and Mole) and Sophie Tucker.

Jimmy joined Tommy in Paul Whiteman's orchestra as well, among others. Jimmy continued with Trumbauer and Whiteman in 1928 as Tommy moved on with the California Ramblers, the Varsity Eight, the Vagabonds and Lanin.

The date was February 14, 1928, when the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra recorded their first releases for Okeh in NYC: 'Mary Ann' and 'Persian Rug'. Their second session on March 14, also for Okeh, wrought 'Coquette' with 'The Yale Blues'. 'Let's Do It' went down on 28 January 1929 with Bing Crosby to become the first 1st Top Ten title on the popularity charts at #9 by the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. Eight more issues by this organization reached the Top Ten to as late as 'You Are My Lucky Star' at #2 in 1935. Two of those topped the charts at #1 in 1935: 'Chasing Shadows' and 'Lullaby of Broadway'.

'Mary Ann'   Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

First recording to issue by the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

Session 14 Feb 1928 in NYC   Matrix 400082-B   OKeh 40995

Trumpet: Leo McConville / Fuzzy Farrar / Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey   Alto sax / oboe: Arnold Brilhart

Tenor Sax: Herbert Spencer   Guitar: Carl Kress

Tuba: Hank Stern   Drums: Chauncey Morehouse

Vocal: Irving Kaufman as Noel Taylor

Music: Abner Silver   Lyrics: Benny Davis

'Persian Rug'   Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

Second recording to issue by the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

Session 14 Feb 1928 in NYC   Matrix 400083-C   OKeh 40995

Trumpet: Leo McConville / Fuzzy Farrar   Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey   Alto sax / oboe: Arnold Brilhart

Tenor Sax: Herbert Spencer   Guitar: Carl Kress

Tuba: Hank Stern   Drums: Chauncey Morehouse

Composition: Cliff Friend

Tommy's first issues as a leader apart from Jimmy went down on 10 November 1928 in NYC to harvest 'It's Right Here for You' and 'Tiger Rag' issued as 'A Trumpet Specialty' by Tom Dorsey on OKeh 41178. Guitarist, Eddie Lang, was part of that ensemble [see Tommy Dorsey]. Jimmy's first session as a leader included Tommy on 13 May or June, 1929: 'Beebe' and 'Prayin' the Blues'. This was in May per 45 Worlds, DAHR and Lord, June at other sources including Discogs, Hoffman, ODP (Abrams), Rust and RYM. Some issues have him leading the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra [Syncopated Times], but this could be Jimmy's own band of accompanists since Okeh 41245 for which this session was held was issued in Jimmy's name featuring a saxophone solo on side A with a clarinet solo on side B.

'Beebe'   Jimmy Dorsey (alto sax) leading an unspecified configuration

Recorded 13 May or June 1929 in NYC   Matrix 401877-B   OKeh 41245

Trumpet: Leo McConville / Manny Klein   Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Alto sax: Alfie Evans   Tenor Sax: Paul Mason

Piano: Arthur Schutt   Guitar: Eddie Lang

Bass: Hank Stern or Joe Tarto   Drums: Stan King

Composition: Jimmy Dorsey

'Prayin' the Blues'   Jimmy Dorsey (clarinet) leading an unspecified configuration

Recorded 13 May or June 1929 in NYC   Matrix 401878-C   OKeh 41245

Trumpet: Leo McConville / Manny Klein   Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Alto sax: Alfie Evans   Tenor Sax: Paul Mason

Piano: Arthur Schutt   Guitar: Eddie Lang

Bass: Hank Stern or Joe Tarto   Drums: Stan King

Composition: Jimmy Dorsey

The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra became a major name in American recording before differences between them made it too difficult for two to run the same band. Their last session together with that joint operation was in NYC on August 1, 1935, with Bobby Byrne on trombone. A final session with Tommy out was held by Jimmy on September 11 of 1935. The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra became Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra which held its initial session on 19 September 1935 with Kay Weber and Bob Eberly sharing vocals on 'A Picture of Me Without You'. Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra commenced recording on 26 September of 1935 with vocals by Cliff Weston and Edith Wright on 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town'.

'You Let Me Down'   Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra backing Bob Eberly

Recorded 10 Oct 1935 in NYC   Decca 602

Composition: Harry Warren / Al Dubin

Jimmy recorded prolifically with his outfit for another twenty years, employing other vocalists along the way like Seger Ellis, Helen O'Connell and Kitty Kallen. Lord counts Jimmy in as many as 1013 sessions overall, slightly fewer than Tommy's 1185 who formed his own orchestra to employ such as Frank Sinatra and Connee Boswell. The Dorsey swing orchestras indulged in a little jazz, but were less jazz than popular dance bands, and sell records they did. Tommy, who would lead about twice as many sessions as Jimmy, also placed about twice as many in the Top Ten of the popularity charts at 81 compared to 43. They each topped the charts at #1, however, about the same number of times with Jimmy at ten of mostly vocals by Bob Eberly and Tommy at eleven of mostly instrumentals. Issues by the Jimmy Dorsey peaking at #1:

   Is It True What They Say About Dixie?   1936
   Change Partners   1938
   The Breeze and I / Bob Eberly   July 1940
   Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy) / Bob Eberly   March 1941
   Green Eyes (Aquellos Ojos Verdes) / Bob Eberly w Helen O'Connell   May 1941
   My Sister and I / Bob Eberly   May 1941
   Maria Elena / Bob Eberly   May 1941
   Blue Champagne / Bob Eberly   Aug 1941
   Tangerine / Bob Eberly w Helen O'Connell   April 1942 (best-selling overall)
   Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much) / Bob Eberly w Kitty Kallen   Jan 1944

'The Nearness of You'   Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra backing Bob Eberly

Radio transcription of 17 May 1940 by World Broadcasting Systems

Discogs has this in Los Angeles   Lord has this in NYC

Trumpet: Johnny Napton / Nate Kazebier / Shorty Solomson

Trombone: Jerry Rosa / Sonny Lee / Don Matteson

Reeds: Jimmy Dorsey / Milt Yaner / Sam Rubinowitch / Herbie Haymer / Charlie Frazier

Piano:Joe Lippman   Guitar: Guy Smith

Bass: Jack Ryan   Drums: Buddy Schutz

Music: Hoagy Carmichael 1938   Lyrics: Ned Washington

'Jimmy Dorsey And His Orchestra ... 1940' on Circle CCD-46 / 1993

Jimmy and Tommy held numerous reunions through the years. They met again in 1939 for an NBC radio broadcast of the 'Raleigh Kool Show' to perform 'Honeysucke Rose' with combined orchestras.

Jimmy played trumpet in Tommy's band for 'Trumpet Contest' during a CBS radio broadcast from the Meadowbrook in Cedar Grove, NJ, on 14 February 1941.

From 10 to 24 November 1942 Jimmy recorded tracks in Hollywood for the MGM film 'I Dood It' including 'One O'Clock Jump' below.

'One O'Clock Jump'   Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra

Sometime 10-24 Nov 1942 in Hollywood for the MGM film 'I Dood It' released 1943

Issued on Joyce 3005

Composition: Count Basie 1937

Tommy contributed trombone to 'Grand Central Getaway' during an AFRS radio broadcast from the Palladium in Hollywood on June 13, 1944. Tommy joined Jimmy again on June 21 for another AFRS broadcast from the Palladium.

Both Jimmy and Tommy backed Eddie Condon at a radio broadcast from the Ritz Theatre in NYC on 24 Feb 1945.

Jimmy and Tommy combined orchestras again for 'Saturday Night' on a 'Spotlight Bands' radio broadcast from La Guardia Air Field in New York on 12 March 1945.

The brothers reunited in 1946 for the filming of the semibiographical 'The Fabulous Dorseys' premiering on 21 Feb 1947. Jimmy featured in Tommy's Orchestra in January of 1954 toward several issues on Bell and Colpix including 'Marie' and 'You're My Everything'.

'The Fabulous Dorseys'   Film released 21 Feb 1947

Directed by Alfred E. Green   Screenplay: Art Arthur / Curtis Kenyon   Starring Janet Blair

'You're My Everything'   Tommy Dorsey Orchestra featuring Jimmy Dorsey

Recorded Jan 1954 in NYC   Bell 1024

Trumpet: Lee Castle / Daryl "Flea" Campbell / Paul Cohen / John McCormick / Johnny Amoroso

Trombone: Tommy Dorsey / Jimmy Henderson / Sam Hyster / Tak Takvorian

Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey

Other saxophone: Skip Galluccio / Kenny DeLange / Buzzy Brauner / Joe Pamelia / Teddy Lee

Piano: Bob Carter   Guitar: Sam Herman

Bass: Bill Cronk   Drums: Jackie Mills

Composition: Mort Dixon / Joe Young / Harry Warren

Jimmy partnered with Tommy again in 1954 for their television program produced by Jackie Gleason, 'Stage Show'. Elvis Presley made his first television appearance on 'Stage Show' on 28 January 1956, an important date in the annals of the old meeting the new. Presley returned consecutively for five more shows.

Jimmy scored his last Top Ten title when 'So Rare' reached #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 in February of 1957.

'So Rare' bw 'Sophisticated Swing'  Jimmy Dorsey w Orchestra and Chorus

Recorded 11 Nov 1956   Fraternity 755 A & B   'So Rare' charts: #2 1957

Music 'So Rare': Jerry Herst 1937   Lyrics: Jack Sharpe

Composition 'Sophisticated Swing': Will Hudson / Mitchell Parish

Upon Tommy's death on November 26, 1956, Jimmy led his brother's ghost band. Jimmy is thought to have given his final performance in Joplin, Missouri, on 12 March 1957 before dying a few months later of throat cancer on June 12, 1957. The current Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra is directed by David Pruyn.

Sources & References for Jimmy Dorsey:

78 rpm Record Spins

Encyclopedia

Jango

Christopher Popa

William Ruhlmann

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Jimmy Dorsey Audio: Classic Jazz Online

Popularity Charts:

Dorsey Brothers Orchestra: Music VF

Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra: Music VF   TsorT

Compositions: Music VF   SHS

Jimmy Dorsey in Film / Television: IMDb

The Fabulous Dorseys (1947): IMDb   Wikipedia

I Dood It (1943): IMDb   Wikipedia

Recordings by the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra:

Catalogs: Discogs   RYM

Compilations: The Essential Dorsey Brothers 1928-1935 (Collectors' Choice 1999)

Sessions: Scott Alexander (1928-35)   DAHR (1928-35)

Dorsey Brothers Concert Orchestra (1928-1929)