Jimmy Dorsey was one of the most influential and successful jazz musicians of the swing era. He was a master of the saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet, and led his own big band as well as collaborating with his brother Tommy Dorsey. He composed and recorded many jazz and pop standards, such as “I’m Glad There Is You” and “It’s The Dreamer In Me”. He also played clarinet on the seminal jazz classics “Singin’ the Blues” and “Georgia on My Mind”. But how did Jimmy Dorsey die, and what was his legacy?
Early Life and Career
Jimmy Dorsey was born on February 29, 1904, in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. His father was a coal miner who later became a music teacher and marching-band director. Jimmy and his younger brother Tommy learned to play various instruments from their father, and started performing together at an early age. By the age of nine, Jimmy was playing trumpet with J. Carson McGee’s King Trumpeters in New York. He switched to alto saxophone in 1915, and then learned clarinet. He played on a clarinet outfitted with the Albert system of fingering, which was different from the Boehm system used by most of his contemporaries.
Jimmy and Tommy formed Dorsey’s Novelty Six, later called Dorsey’s Wild Canaries, one of the first jazz bands to broadcast. In 1924, Jimmy joined the California Ramblers, who were based in New York City. He did much freelance radio and recording work throughout the 1920s, appearing as a session musician on many jazz recordings. He joined Ted Lewis’s band in 1930, with whom he toured Europe. The same year, he played clarinet on the iconic jazz standard “Georgia on My Mind” with Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra, which featured Bix Beiderbecke on cornet. Jimmy married Jane Porter in 1928, and they had one daughter, Julia. Jane Porter and Jimmy divorced in 1949.
Big Band Leader and Composer
In 1933, Jimmy and Tommy formed the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, which became one of the most popular big bands of the swing era. They had many hit records, such as “Lullaby of Broadway”, “I’ll Never Say Never Again Again”, and “The Music Goes ‘Round and Around”. They also featured many vocalists, such as Bing Crosby, Bob Eberly, Helen O’Connell, and Frank Sinatra. However, the brothers had frequent arguments over musical and personal issues, which led to their split in 1935.
Jimmy continued to lead his own big band, which was equally successful as his brother’s. He recorded and composed many jazz and pop standards, such as “I’m Glad There Is You”, “It’s The Dreamer In Me”, “Tailspin”, “John Silver”, “So Many Times”, “Amapola”, “Brazil”, “Pennies from Heaven”, “Grand Central Getaway”, and “So Rare”. He also played clarinet on the seminal jazz classic “Singin’ the Blues” with the Frankie Trumbauer Orchestra in 1927, which was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. He was known for his versatility and virtuosity on various instruments, especially the saxophone and clarinet.
Death and Legacy
Jimmy Dorsey died on June 12, 1957, at the age of 53. The cause of death was lung cancer, according to The Celebrity Deaths. He had been diagnosed with the disease in 1956, but continued to perform until shortly before his death. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Jimmy Dorsey left behind a rich musical legacy that influenced many generations of jazz musicians. He was one of the pioneers of the big band sound, and one of the most prolific composers and arrangers of jazz and pop music. He was also one of the finest saxophonists and clarinetists of all time, who could play with great skill and expression. He was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for his recordings of “Singin’ the Blues” and “Georgia on My Mind”. He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to music.
Jimmy Dorsey was a jazz legend who passed away too soon. His music lives on in the hearts of his fans and admirers. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest musicians of the swing era.
