Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

February 29, 1904 in Shenandoah, PA

Death

:

June 12, 1957 in New York City, NY

 

Jimmy Dorsey was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, and bandleader who was born on February 29, 1904, in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. He was the younger brother of Tommy Dorsey, who was also a famous bandleader and trombonist. Jimmy Dorsey was a versatile musician who played several instruments, including the clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and flute. He was also a prolific composer who wrote many popular songs and arrangements during his career. Dorsey grew up in a musical family, and his father was a music teacher who taught him and his brother how to play various instruments. Dorsey started playing the cornet at a young age and later switched to the clarinet, which became his primary instrument. He and his brother Tommy formed their first band, The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, in the early 1920s, and they played in various venues in Pennsylvania and New York. In 1927, the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra moved to New York City and started playing at the Roseland Ballroom. They became popular among the young dancers who enjoyed their lively and energetic music. However, the brothers had different musical styles and personalities, which led to frequent arguments and eventually a split in 1935. Tommy Dorsey formed his own band, while Jimmy Dorsey continued to lead the original Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. Jimmy Dorsey's band became known as the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, and it quickly gained popularity with its smooth and sophisticated sound. Dorsey was a talented arranger who wrote many of the band's arrangements, including the famous "Green Eyes" and "Tangerine." He also composed several hit songs, such as "Amapola," "I'm Glad There Is You," and "Besame Mucho." During the 1940s, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra became one of the most popular bands in the United States, and it performed in many famous venues, including the Hollywood Palladium and the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The band also appeared in several movies, including "The Fleet's In" and "Lost in a Harem." Dorsey was known for his smooth and mellow clarinet playing, which was often compared to the sound of Benny Goodman's clarinet. In 1942, Dorsey enlisted in the United States Army and formed a military band, which he led until 1945. After the war, he resumed his career as a bandleader and continued to perform with his orchestra. However, the big band era was coming to an end, and many bands, including Dorsey's, struggled to find work. In the late 1940s, Dorsey started to focus more on recording and television appearances, which helped him to maintain his popularity. In the 1950s, Dorsey's orchestra continued to perform and record, but the music industry was changing, and rock and roll was becoming more popular. Dorsey adapted to the changing times and recorded several rock and roll songs, including "So Rare" and "Perfidia." He also appeared on television shows, such as "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Jackie Gleason Show." Dorsey's health started to decline in the late 1950s, and he suffered a heart attack in 1959. He continued to perform and record, but his health problems forced him to retire from touring in 1962. He died on June 12, 1957, at the age of 53. Jimmy Dorsey was a talented musician and composer who made significant contributions to the development of jazz and big band music. He was known for his smooth and sophisticated sound, and his music continues to be popular among jazz enthusiasts today.

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