Tommy Dorsey

Tommy Dorsey

Source: Wikiwand

Tommy Dorsey was brother to Jimmy Dorsey with whom he began his career in the early twenties and ran an orchestra for about seven years before separating to lead each their own organizations. Jimmy was nigh a couple years older than Tommy who was born on 19 November 1905 in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. Jimmy performed on 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 tunes for Victor with the Jean Goldkette Orchestra, their first session on March 27, 1924, to yield '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 put up tracks with the Varsity Eight and the California Ramblers before Jimmy and Red Nichols moved on 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 moved onward through Goldkette and Fred Rich before working with Nichols again in latter 1926, now with the Red Heads, Five Pennies, then the Arkansas Travelers in January 1927. Tommy meanwhile performed with Rollini in the Vagabonds in latter 1926 before the pair of them moved on to Ted Wallace and his Orchestra in January of 1927.

Jimmy and Tommy backed Lanin again before Jimmy moved on with bands led by Frank Trumbauer, Nichols and Miff Mole. They performed together in Paul Whiteman's orchestra as well, among others, as Tommy continued 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 joint 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. Tommy then backed Jimmy's first session as a leader on 13 May or June of 1929: 'Beebe' and 'Prayin' the Blues'. Those featured Jimmy on alto sax and clarinet issued as Jimmy Dorsey on OKeh 41245 [see Jimmy Dorsey].

'It's Right Here for You'   Tommy Dorsey (trumpet)

Session 10 Nov 1928 in NYC   Matrix 401308-C   OKeh 41178

Harmonium: Arthur Schutt   Guitar: Eddie Lang

Bass: Jimmy Williams   Drums: Stan King

Composition: Perry Bradford

'Tiger Rag'   Tommy Dorsey (trumpet)

Session 10 Nov 1928 in NYC   Matrix 401309-C   OKeh 41178

Guitar: Eddie Lang   Bass: Jimmy Williams   Drums: Stan King

Composition: Original Dixieland Jazz Band

The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra was a major big deal in American recording until the pair fell out in 1935. Their last session together with that organization was in NYC on August 1, 1935, with Bobby Byrne on trombone. A final session with Tommy out was held on September 11 of 1935. The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra became Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra which held its initial session on 19 September 1935 including Kay Weber and Bob Eberly sharing vocals on 'A Picture of Me Without You'. Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra began recording on 26 September of 1935 in a session including vocals by Cliff Weston and Edith Wright on 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town'.

'Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town'   Tommy Dorsey Orchestra

Session 26 Sep 1935 in NYC   Victor 25145

Trumpet: Andy Ferretti / Sterling Bose / Bill Graham

Trombone: Tommy Dorsey / Ben Pickering / Dave Jacobs

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Sid Stoneburn / Noni Bernardi / Clyde Rounds / John Van Eps

Piano / arrangement: Paul Mitchell   Guitar: Mac Cheikes

Bass: Gene Traxler   Drums: Sam Rosen

Composition: Cliff Friend

Jimmy's recording career came to 1013 sessions overall compared to Tommy's 1158 [Lord]. Jimmy & His Orchestra would employ vocalists like Seger Ellis, Helen O'Connell and Kitty Kallen. Tommy's operation would feature singers like Frank Sinatra and Connee Boswell. The Dorsey swing bands indulged in spare jazz, but were less jazz than popular dance orchestras, 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, 81 compared to 43. They each topped the charts at #1, however, about the same number of times with Tommy at eleven of mostly instrumentals and Jimmy at ten of mostly vocals by Bob Eberly. Issues by Tommy Dorsey peaking at #1:

   On Treasure Island   1935
   Alone   1936
   You   1936
   Marie   1937 (best-selling overall)
   Once in a While   1937
   Satan Takes a Holiday   1937
   The Big Apple   1937
   Music, Maestro, Please   1938
   I'll Never Smile Again / Frank Sinatra   July 1940
   There Are Such Things / Frank Sinatra w the Pied Pipers   Nov 1942
   In the Blue of Evening / Frank Sinatra   July 1943

Tommy's 1937 version of 'Song of India' charted at #7 that year. That was an adaptation of Rimsky-Korsakov's aria 'Pesni︠a︡ indiĭskogo gosti︠a︡' ('Song of the Indian Guest') in his 1898 opera 'Sadko'.

'Song of India'   Tommy Dorsey Orchestra

Swing Cavalcade radio broadcast from NYC April or May 1938

Trumpet: Pee Wee Erwin / Lee Castle / Andy Ferretti

Trombone: Tommy Dorsey / Les Jenkins / Earle Hagen

Reeds: Johnny Mince / Fred Stulce / Hymie Schertzer / Skeets Herfurt / Deane Kincaide

Piano: Howard Smith   Guitar: Carmen Mastren

Bass: Gene Traxler   Drums: Maurice Purtill

Arrangement: Tommy Dorsey / Red Bone

Composition: Rimsky-Korsakov 1897

'Boogie Woogie'   Tommy Dorsey Orchestra

Recorded 16 Sep 1938 in NYC   Victor 26054   Charts: #3 1938

Trumpet: Charlie Spivak / Max Kaminsky / Yank Lawson

Trombone: Tommy Dorsey / Les Jenkins / Buddy Morrow

Reeds: Johnny Mince / Fred Stulce / Hymie Schertzer / Skeets Herfurt / Deane Kincaide

Piano: Howard Smith   Guitar: Carmen Mastren

Bass: Gene Traxler   Drums: Maurice Purtill

Composition: Pinetop Smith

Tommy also led the Clambake Seven from 1935 to 1939. I've not been able to determine who manned 'You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby' below but it consisted of cream members from Tommy's orchestra.

'You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby'   Tommy Dorsey & His Clambake Seven

Recorded 29 Sep 1938 in NYC   Victor 26066   Charts: #8 1938

Vocal by Edith Wright

Music: Harry Warren 1938   Lyrics: Johnny Mercer

Tommy held numerous reunions with Jimmy through the years. They met again to combine their orchestras in 1939 for an NBC radio broadcast of the 'Raleigh Kool Show' on which they performed 'Honeysucke Rose'.

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.

In June of 1943 Tommy recorded tracks for the film 'Broadway Rhythm'. 'Opus One' below is from the soundtrack although film footage is a montage only partially consisting of 'Broadway Rhythm'.

'Opus One'   Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra   Film montage

Recorded June 1943 in Hollywood for the MGM film 'Broadway Rhythm' released 1944

Trumpet: Charlie Shavers   Piano: Freddie DeLand

Music: Sy Oliver 1943   Lyrics: Sid Garris

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 Palladium broadcast.

They both backed Eddie Condon at a radio broadcast from the Ritz Theatre in NYC on 24 Feb 1945.

Tommy and Jimmy combined their 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 semi-biographical filming of '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

The Dorseys partnered 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 Jan 1956, an important date in the annals of the old meeting the new. Presley returned to the show five more times.

Tommy died by choking while eating or sleeping on November 26, 1956. For all the industry he'd put into his work, minus the expenses of touring with an orchestra he reportedly left his wife only $15,000. Jimmy assumed leadership of Tommy's ghost band until his own death half a year later on 12 June 1957, whence trombonist and vocalist, Warren Covington, took over. Another ghost band was created in 1961 by Tino Barzie, Tommy's manager. In 1977 trombonist, Buddy Morrow, assumed leadership. The current Tommy Dorsey Orchestra is directed by Terry Myers.

Sources & References for Tommy Dorsey:

Credo Reference

Encyclopedia

Alex W. Rodriguez

John Twomey

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Tommy Dorsey Audio: Classic Jazz Online