He was the “Sentimental Gentleman of Swing,” a trombonist with perfect breath control, a pretty sound, and a melodic swinging style. Tommy Dorsey led one of the most popular bands in the swing world of the late 1930s/early ’40s and is still a famous name in jazz circles today.
Dorsey was also an occasionally mean drunk who was known to fire many of his sidemen if they had an off night. He had an erratic personality, loving a good fight but also being warm and generous much of the time, as long as things went his way.
Tommy Dorsey was born November 19, 1905 in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, a little less than 21 months after his brother Jimmy. He was taught trumpet by his father who also gave lessons on the instrument to Jimmy. While TD would switch his main focus to trombone by the mid-1920s, he occasionally recorded on trumpet during that decade (although rarely in later years), creating a primitive but effective style that greatly contrasted with his smooth trombone.
Early Recordings
The Dorsey Brothers had parallel lives until they were nearly 30. They co-led Dorsey’s Novelty Six (later renamed the Wild Canaries) and the Scranton Sirens in the early 1920s, making their recording debut with the latter on two titles from May 1923. They were with Jean Goldkette’s orchestra in 1924 and TD recorded with Bix Beiderbecke in 1925 on “Davenport Blues” and “Toddlin’ Blue
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