Jimmy Dorsey

Son of a coal miner turned music educator and older brother to Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey was a musical child prodigy, playing the trumpet and coronet at local parties with his father at the age of 7. He began his professional career at age 17 playing saxophone with the Jean Goldkette band, then forming "Dorsey's Novelty Six" with his brother Jimmy, one of the first jazz bands to broadcast live. In 1924 he joined the California Ramblers (based in NYC) and continued live broadcasts as well as recording with his brother as session musicians. He joined Ted Lewis' band in 1930, touring Europe with him.

After returning to the U.S. he worked for Rudy Vallee's band as well as his band with his brother. "The Dorsey Brother's Orchestra". In 1935 he broke off to start his own orchestra after a music dispute with his brother. The band became "The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra" and would feature Bobby Byrne, Ray McKinley along with vocalists Bob Eberly and Kay Weber.

In 1939, Helen O'Connell joined the band and the charming "boy and girl next door" chemistry between her and Eberly produced some of the band's biggest hits. Many of the recordings were done in an unusual a-b-c format with Eberly singing the first minute as a romantic ballard, the next part featured Jimmy backed by the band and the third part was sung by O'Connell in a more upbeat tempo, often in Spanish. It's said this format was encouraged by a record producer who wanted to get both singers and the band on a single 3 minute, 78 recording.

In 1953, a few years after the release of the movie, "The Fabulous Dorseys" the brothers reunited and began playing together again until Tommy's death in 1956. Jimmy took over the band but died shortly after in mid-1957.