Genres Jazz Active until 1956 | Active from 1928 Genre Jazz | |
 | ||
Years active 1928 (1928)-1935 (1935) Labels OKeh Records (1928-30)
Melotone Records (1931)
Columbia Records (1931)
Brunswick Records (1932-34)
Decca Records (1934-35) Past members Tommy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey Members Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey Albums Their Shining Hour, Best of The Big Bands Similar The Boswell Sisters, Bob Crosby, Bunny Berigan, Paul Whiteman, Joe Venuti | ||
The dorsey brothers st louis blues
The Dorsey Brothers were a studio group fronted by musicians Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. They started recording under their name in 1928 with a series of studio recordings for the OKeh label (they had come to New York in the mid-1920s and were among the most sought-after musicians). Always just a studio group, members (during the 1928-1934 period) included nearly all of the great white jazz musicians playing around New York City.
Contents
- The dorsey brothers st louis blues
- Boogie woogie glenn miller the dorsey brothers
- History
- Notable releases
- Songs
- References
Boogie woogie glenn miller the dorsey brothers
History
They did a few sides for the dime store labels (Banner, Cameo, Domino, Jewel, Oriole, Perfect, etc.) and also a handful of sides during their Brunswick period were issued on Vocalion.
They signed to Decca Records in 1934, basically formed a more traditional regular band, and even started performing live until they had their famous falling out in May 1935. Glenn Miller composed four songs for the Dorsey Brothers Band when he was a member in 1934 and 1935, "Annie's Cousin Fannie", "Dese Dem Dose", "Harlem Chapel Chimes", and "Tomorrow's Another Day".
Johnny Mercer sang the lead vocals on the recording of "Dr. Heckle And Mr. Jibe", which was written by guitarist Dick McDonough.
In 1935, the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra had two no.1 recordings on Decca Records, "Lullaby of Broadway" with Bob Crosby on vocals, topping the charts for two weeks, and "Chasing Shadows", no.1 for three weeks. Tommy Dorsey would have seventeen number one hits while Jimmy Dorsey would have ten after they formed their own orchestras in 1935.
Tommy left the orchestra in 1935, effectively ending the group as most bandmembers either followed him or left altogether. The Dorseys reunited on March 15, 1945 to record a V-Disc at Liederkranz Hall in New York City. Released in June 1945, V-Disc 451 featured "More Than You Know", backed with "Brotherly Jump". The songs featured the combined orchestras of Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. They reunited again in 1947 to film the biopic The Fabulous Dorseys, in which they played themselves. In the 1950s, they had their own network TV series, Stage Show, broadcast by CBS. Elvis Presley made his national television debut on their show in 1956.
In 1996, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative Jimmy Dorsey and Tommy Dorsey postage stamp.
(See Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey's individual listings for more details).
Notable releases
Songs
Annie's Cousin FannyBlues Blues Blues · 2011
Lullaby of BroadwayNostalgic Memories - Volume 16 - Dorsey Brothers · 2011
Mood HollywoodThe Essential Dorsey Brothers Collection - Vol 2 · 2008