ABSTRACT
American trombonist and Big band leader, born in Mahoney Plains, Pennsylvania. He was younger brother to Jimmy Dorsey, with whom he shared the successful Dorsey Brothers Orchestra and other activities. His most remarkable achievement was the development of “a virtuoso technique using a unique method of convex breathing that enabled him to maintain miraculously long passages legato” (Slonimsky 1984). The result was a tone of astonishing sweetness that appeared to ignore the limitations of the instrument. But Tommy Dorsey’s band had other strengths, including such instrumentalists as trumpeters Bunny Berigan, Ziggy Elman, and Pee Wee Erwin; clarinetist Buddy De Franco; and drummers Buddy Rich and Dave Tough. Connie Haines, Dick Haymes, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, and the Pied Pipers provided outstanding vocals. Arrangers included by Oliver, Paul Weston, and Axel Stordahl. One clever type of arrangement had the band members sing a chorus as background to a solo vocal; it produced such hit records as “Marie” (Victor 25523; 1937), and “Who” (Victor 25693; 1937). Some of the best records with Sinatra were “I’ll Be Seeing You” (Victor 26539; 1940), “I’ll Never Smile Again” (Victor 26628; 1940), and “This Love of Mine”(Victor 27508; 1941). “Boogie-Woogie” was an all-time instrumental hit (Victor 26054; 1937). “Song of India”—a powerful instrumental arrangement by Dorsey and Red Bone, featuring Dorsey’s trombone and Bunny Berigan’s trumpet-is perhaps the finest recording of the orchestra (Victor 25523; 1937). Dorsey died in Greenwich, Connecticut.
