Jimmy Dorsey Biography, Photos and Posters

Jimmy Dorsey

Biography

Born: February 29, 1904
Hometown: Shenandoah, Pennsylvania
Instrument: Trumpet
Music Training: he was taught by his father
Bands and Orchestras: Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, Vincent Lopez, The Dorsey Brothers' Orchestra
Signature Song: "Contrasts"
Signature Song: Jimmy Dorsey was the first son of music teacher and marching bandleader Thomas Francis Dorsey and Theresa Langton Dorsey. His father taught him to play and by the age of 7 he was playing cornet in his father's band. By the age of 9 he had switched to the trumpet and played professionally with the J. Carson McGee's King Trumpeters in New York in September 1913. Two year later he switched to reed instruments playing both the alto sax and clarinet while his younger brother Tommy took up the horn. As Dorsey's Wild Canaries they played an extended engagement in Baltimore. In 1924 he moved to New York and made several career moves: first joining the California Ramblers, then the Jean Goldkette Orchestra and finally Paul Whiteman's Orchestra in 1926. He was joined in all of these ventures by his brother Tommy and after sttling in New York they both worked as session musicians and in the pits on Broadway. In 1927 they began organizing the Dorsey Orchestra and recorded their first hit record, "Coquette" on Okeh Records. In th espring of 1929 they hit the top ten with the Bing Crosby rendition of Cole Porter's "Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)." By 1934 they formed a permanent touring band and signed a recording contract with newly formed Decca Records. In 1935 they reached the top ten again with 2 more Bing Crosby recordings "What a Diff'rence a Day Made" and "I Believe in Miracles," a couple of Bob Crosby records "Night Wind" and "Lullaby of Broadway," as well as Kay Weber's "Tiny Little Fingerprints." In May of that year when "Lullaby of Broadway" hit the top of the charts the brothers had a falling out and Tommy left the band to form his own group. With Bob Eberly on vocals the orchestra which continued to be called the Dorsey Brother's Orchestra turned out several hit records including: "You Are My Lucky Star" and "I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'." By th eend of the year after Tommy had launched his own band the name was changed to Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra. After the newly named group hit the charts with "You Let Me Down" they signed on as the accompaniment for host Bing Crosby on the Kraft Music Hall. The effects of the split up allowed Benny Goodman to gain the spotlight as "the King of Swing." Recognition for Jimmy's new group was slow, but by 1938 he scored 7 top ten hits including "Change Partners" which topped the charts. The following year he had 6 hits and 3 more in 1940. HIs career hit its zenith in 1941 when he had 12 top ten hits including the number 1 hit "I Hear a Rhapsody." After 1945 the band went into commercial decline and in the early 50s he was forced to disband. He was offered a place in his brothers orchestra which once again became the Dorsey Brother's Orchestra. In November of 1956 after his brother died suddenly Jimmy took over the band recording their last hit song "So Rare" which peaked at number 5 on the charts the week Jimmy Dorsey died.
Died: June 12, 1957

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