The Dorsey Brothers

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Dorsey Brothers were an American studio dance band led by the brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. They began recording for OKeh Records in 1928 and made recordings for all kinds of small labels. In 1934 they signed with Decca and formed a touring orchestra, with Tommy as frontman, in an unusual line-up of one trumpet, three trombones, three saxophones and four rhythm players. Glenn Miller wrote a few numbers for the orchestra in that period, among them Annie's Cousin Fannie and Dese Dem Dose.

Music and breakthrough

The brothers clashed constantly. In May 1935 Tommy walked out during a performance after a quarrel about the tempo of a song. In that same year the orchestra had two number ones on Decca, including Lullaby of Broadway with Bob Crosby as vocalist. Tommy then started his own orchestra and Jimmy continued the old one.

Influence

Yet the brothers later came together again. In 1945 they recorded a V-Disc, in 1947 they appeared in the film The Fabulous Dorseys, and from 1950 Jimmy was part of Tommy's orchestra. In 1954 they got their own television series, Stage Show, from Jackie Gleason. In it Elvis Presley made his national television debut in 1956. Tommy died in November 1956, Jimmy in June 1957. In 1996 the United States Postal Service issued a stamp in honour of both. The Dorsey Brothers show how the big-band era sounded before rock and roll changed popular music.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1996Opus No. 1