Known for movies
Short Info
Died | November 26, 1956, Greenwich, Connecticut, United States |
Spouse | Patricia Dane |
Fact | He and his brother Jimmy Dorsey formed The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1930. Tommy, the more temperamental one, is usually blamed for igniting the long-standing feud that broke them up in 1935. Apparently an argument erupted over the tempo of one of their songs, which led to Tommy's exit. They appeared together for one film in 1947, but did not reunite until 1953, when they reformed an orchestra. The final years of their lives were spent co-hosting a musical variety show, which introduced Elvis Presley to TV for the first time (he sang "Heartbreak Hotel"). |
Tommy Dorsey was born on November 19, 1905 in Mahanoy Plane, Pennsylvania. His parents were Thomas Francis Dorsey, Sr. and Theresa Langton Dorsey. He had four siblings: Edward, George, Joseph and Helen. Tommy Dorsey’s father was a coal miner and his mother was a music teacher. Dorsey’s interest in music began when he was a child and he took piano lessons from his mother. He started playing the trombone when he was eleven years old.
Dorsey’s musical career began when he played in the Scranton Sirens, a dance band, in 1923. He moved to New York City in 1927 and played with the New York Symphony Orchestra. In 1929, Dorsey began playing with the New York Philharmonic. He also played with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. In 1935, Dorsey and his brother, Jimmy, formed the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The orchestra became one of the most popular bands of the 1930s and 1940s.
They played at the Cotton Club and at Carnegie Hall. The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra had many hit records, including “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You” and “Marie. ” Tommy Dorsey’s net worth was $50 million at the time of his death. He died of a heart attack on November 26, 1956 in Greenwich, Connecticut.
General Info
Full Name | Tommy Dorsey |
Died | November 26, 1956, Greenwich, Connecticut, United States |
Profession | Actor, Composer, Bandleader, Trumpeter, Trombonist, Song of India, I'll Never Smile Again, I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You |
Nationality | American |
Family
Spouse | Patricia Dane |
Children | Patricia Dorsey, Steve Dorsey, Catherine Susan Dorsey, Song of India, I'll Never Smile Again, I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You |
Parents | Thomas Francis Dorsey, Sr., Theresa Dorsey, Song of India, I'll Never Smile Again, I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You |
Siblings | Jimmy Dorsey |
Accomplishments
Awards | Grammy Hall of Fame |
Music Groups | The Dorsey Brothers, The California Ramblers, Original Memphis Five, Song of India, I'll Never Smile Again, I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You |
Movies | A Song Is Born, The Fabulous Dorseys, Presenting Lily Mars, Upbeat in Music, Du Barry Was a Lady, Las Vegas Nights |
TV Shows | Stage Show |
Social profile links
Quotes
# | Quote |
---|---|
1 | I wish you wouldn't make the strings such an important part of your arrangements because frankly they're only a tax dodge! - to Nelson Riddle |
Facts
# | Fact |
---|---|
1 | A trombonist and bandleader, he appeared with his own orchestra in a few films of the 40's but is best remembered for his band's recordings - like "Marie" (sung by Jack Leonard) and "On the Sunny Side of the Street.". |
2 | His mother died on June 22, 1968, at the age of 93. |
3 | His brother, Jimmy, had an affair with Tommy's second wife, Patricia, before Patricia and Tommy met. Later, at one of Tommy's birthday parties, Jimmy shoved the cake in Patricia's face, leading to a fight between the two brothers. |
4 | His daughter, Pat, got married in February 1943 to Lester Hooker, who was to become a basketball coach at William and Mary and University of Richmond. They had three children and were married until his death in 1999. Dorsey was not happy about the marriage, as Pat was only seventeen. |
5 | His first wife obtained a divorce on the grounds of adultery. |
6 | He had an affair with Tallulah Bankhead during his first marriage. |
7 | His first wife was always called Toots. |
8 | His daughter, Patricia Marie Dorsey, was born on April 11, 1925. She was called Patsy or Pat. She now goes by Pat Dorsey Hooker. |
9 | His son, Thomas Francis "Skipper" Dorsey III, born September 9, 1930. |
10 | Edythe Wright was his mistress from 1935 until at least 1941. She joined his band in 1935, but left in 1939 after his wife found out and insisted she leave the band. |
11 | His two youngest children, Susan and Steve, did not attend his funeral because their mother felt that they were too young. |
12 | He had a son, Steve, with his third wife, Jane. |
13 | Frank Sinatra refused to be a part of his memorial show, saying, "I didn't like him. It would be inappropriate for me to appear on a memorial show." Buddy Rich refused to appear because Sinatra wouldn't appear. |
14 | His daughter, Catherine Susan "Susie," was born in November, 1949. |
15 | His father, Thomas Francis Dorsey, died in July 12, 1942. |
16 | He was the uncle of Julie Lou Dorsey. |
17 | He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Reocrding at 6675 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. |
18 | The Dorsey brothers' father, Thomas Dorsey, Sr., was a cornet-playing coal miner who also led the Shenandoah town band and gave music lessons on the side. He was his sons' first teacher. Their mother, Tess Dorsey, would outlive both her sons by several years. |
19 | Buried at Kensico Cemetary, Valhalla, New York. His grave marker in a granite slab with the raised outline of a trombone in the middle. |
20 | Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1981. |
21 | Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1989. |
22 | Pictured with brother Jimmy Dorsey on one of a set of four 29¢ US commemorative postage stamps in the Legends of American Music series, issued 11 September 1996, celebrating big band leaders. Other band leaders honored in this issue are Count Basie, Glenn Miller, and Benny Goodman. |
23 | The first variety show on which Elvis Presley appeared was Stage Show (1954), a summer replacement for The Jackie Gleason Show (1952), hosted by Dorsey and his brother Jimmy Dorsey. Jackie Gleason, the show's producer, later apologized for putting on "a porno act" and Ed Sullivan said he would never have anything like that on his show. Sullivan later changed his mind after Elvis made another appearance on a rival TV show. |
24 | He and his brother Jimmy Dorsey formed The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1930. Tommy, the more temperamental one, is usually blamed for igniting the long-standing feud that broke them up in 1935. Apparently an argument erupted over the tempo of one of their songs, which led to Tommy's exit. They appeared together for one film in 1947, but did not reunite until 1953, when they reformed an orchestra. The final years of their lives were spent co-hosting a musical variety show, which introduced Elvis Presley to TV for the first time (he sang "Heartbreak Hotel"). |
25 | Choked to death in his sleep after a heavy meal. |
26 | Brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey. |
Pictures
Movies
Soundtrack
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Hail, Caesar! | 2016 | writer: "Song of India" | |
Boardwalk Empire | 2012 | TV Series 1 episode | |
Sparkle | 2012/I | writer: "You Taught Me To Love Again" | |
Mildred Pierce | 2011 | TV Mini-Series performer - 1 episode | |
Mafia II | 2010 | Video Game performer: "THE DIPSY DOODLE" | |
Big River Man | 2009 | Documentary writer: "Take My Hand Precious Lord" - as Thomas Dorsey | |
Mad Men | 2008 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
Bitter & Twisted | 2008 | performer: "Song of India" | |
Crips and Bloods: Made in America | 2008 | Documentary performer: "Opus One" - as Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra | |
Cold Case | 2006 | TV Series 1 episode | |
Anytown, USA | 2005 | Documentary performer: "Marie" | |
The Human Stain | 2003 | performer: "Sleepy Lagoon" 1940 | |
Hart's War | 2002 | performer: "Marie" | |
RKO 281 | 1999 | TV Movie arranger: "Song of India" | |
Frank Lloyd Wright | 1998 | Documentary "Song of India" | |
President i ego zhenshchina | 1996 | music: "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" | |
The Exorcist III | 1990 | performer: "Song of India" | |
Where the Heart Is | 1990 | performer: "A Song Of India" | |
Radio Days | 1987 | performer: "Opus One" 1943, "You and I" 1941, "I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You" 1932 | |
The Jewel in the Crown | 1984 | TV Mini-Series performer - 1 episode | |
WKRP in Cincinnati | 1981 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
Annie Hall | 1977 | performer: "Sleepy Lagoon" 1930 | |
The Andy Griffith Show | TV Series lyrics - 1 episode, 1962 music - 1 episode, 1962 | ||
The George Gobel Show | 1955 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
Universal Name Band Musical 7301: Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra | 1951 | Short performer: "You Left Your Brown-Eyed Baby", "Opus No. 1", "Hucklebuck", "Boogie Woogie", "Diane" | |
A Song Is Born | 1948 | performer: "A Song Is Born" 1948 | |
The Great Morgan | 1946 | performer: "I Fell in Love with the Leader of the Band" | |
Thrill of a Romance | 1945 | performer: "Please Don't Say No, Say Maybe", "I Should Care", "Song of India", "Opus One", "Battle of the Balcony Jive", "The Guy with the Slide Trombone Hungarian Rhapsody", "Ich Liebe Dich" - uncredited | |
Broadway Rhythm | 1944 | performer: "I Love Corny Music" | |
Girl Crazy | 1943 | performer: "Fascinating Rhythm" 1924 - uncredited | |
Du Barry Was a Lady | 1943 | "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" 1932 / performer: "Friendship" 1939 | |
Ship Ahoy | 1942 | "The Last Call for Love" 1942 / performer: "I'll Take Tallulah" 1942 | |
Mirrors | 1934 | Short "China Boy", uncredited |
Actor
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Universal Name Band Musical 7301: Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra | 1951 | Short | Tommy Dorsey |
Disc Jockey | 1951 | Tommy Dorsey | |
A Song Is Born | 1948 | Tommy Dorsey | |
The Fabulous Dorseys | 1947 | Tommy Dorsey | |
Thrill of a Romance | 1945 | Tommy Dorsey | |
Broadway Rhythm | 1944 | Tommy Dorsey | |
Girl Crazy | 1943 | Tommy Dorsey | |
Swing Fever | 1943 | Tommy Dorsey (uncredited) | |
I Dood It | 1943 | Tommy Dorsey (uncredited) | |
Du Barry Was a Lady | 1943 | Tommy Dorsey | |
Presenting Lily Mars | 1943 | Tommy Dorsey | |
Ship Ahoy | 1942 | Tommy Dorsey | |
Birth of the Blues | 1941 | Tommy Dorsey | |
Las Vegas Nights | 1941 | Tommy Dorsey |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Music on 2 | 1970 | TV Series | Himself |
Stage Show | 1954-1956 | TV Series | Himself - Co-Host / Himself |
What's My Line? | 1950-1955 | TV Series | Himself - Mystery Guest |
The Jackie Gleason Show | 1953-1955 | TV Series | Himself - Guest Host / Himself - Guest Co-Host / Himself / ... |
This Is Your Life | 1954 | TV Series | Himself |
The George Jessel Show | 1954 | TV Series | Himself |
Upbeat in Music | 1943 | Documentary short | Band Leader |
High Hat | 1929 | Short | Himself (uncredited) |
Archive Footage
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
My Music: Starlight Ballroom | 2015 | TV Movie | Himself |
Sinatra: All or Nothing at All | 2015 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself |
Io sono Tony Scott, ovvero come l'Italia fece fuori il più grande clarinettista del jazz | 2010 | Documentary | Himself |
My Music: The Big Band Years | 2009 | TV Movie | Himself |
Biography | 1998 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
This Is Elvis | 1981 | Himself (uncredited) | |
All You Need Is Love | 1977 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
That's Entertainment, Part II | 1976 | Documentary | Clip from 'Girl Crazy' (uncredited) |
Amigos del martes | 1964 | TV Series | Himself |
The Ed Sullivan Show | 1963 | TV Series | Himself, Band Leader |
The Great Morgan | 1946 | Tommy Dorsey (uncredited) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia