Tommy Dorsey, "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing," was arguably the most popular bandleader of the Swing Era (1935-45), despite such formidable competition as Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Harry James and Artie Shaw. Dorsey's mellow trombone set the signature sound of his orchestra, although he mixed the sweetness of swing with jazz, ballads and novelty numbers.

Thomas "Tommy" Dorsey (1905-1956) was born in Shenandoah, Pa., the younger brother of famed jazz clarinetist Jimmy Dorsey. Tommy was known in his youth as both a trumpet and trombone player. He eventually settled on the trombone, becoming a successful free-lance radio and recording artist in the early 1930s. Before forming "The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra" with Jimmy in 1934, Tommy worked with Jean Goldkette, Paul Whiteman, Bix Beiderbecke, Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang and Red Nichols.

After splitting with his brother, Tommy Dorsey formed his own band and chose "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" as his signature number. His group soon became the top band in the country. In addition to collaborating with many of the leading musicians of his time, Tommy worked with such outstanding vocalists as Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Connie Haines and The Pied Pipers.

Tommy Dorsey's distinguished recording career was capped by his biggest-selling record, an orchestrated version of the Pinetop Smith classic "Boogie-Woogie" that sold four million copies. The Dorsey Brothers reformed their band in 1953 and had their own television show on CBS in 1955-56.

Dorsey also appeared in roughly a dozen feature films as himself, usually billed as "Leader of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra." Dorsey and his orchestra (along with an uncredited vocalist named Frank Sinatra) made their movie debut in Paramount's Las Vegas Nights (1941) before appearing in a series of MGM musicals through the remainder of the early 1940s.

Dorsey and his band made their MGM debut in Ship Ahoy (1942), a Red Skelton/Eleanor Powell vehicle that keeps the orchestra busy with such numbers as "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" and "Hawaiian War Chant" and again featured uncredited appearances by Sinatra as the band vocalist. Next came Presenting Lily Mars (1943), with Judy Garland performing "Broadway Rhythm" with Dorsey and his orchestra.

In the film version of the fanciful Cole Porter musical DuBarry Was a Lady (1943), starring Skelton, Lucille Ball and Gene Kelly, Dorsey and his band appear stockinged and bewigged as members of the court of Louis XV. They also perform a particularly hot rendition of "Well, Git It!" with Buddy Rich on drums.

The Dorsey numbers in the Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland musical Girl Crazy (1943) include "Fascinatin' Rhythm," "Sam and Delilah" and "Barbary Coast." In Broadway Rhythm (1944), a film version of the stage musical Very Warm for May, the Dorsey tunes are two written by Don Raye and Gene de Paul: "I Love Corny Music" and "Irresistible You." The Esther Williams swim-musical Thrill of a Romance (1945) has Dorsey performing "I Should Care."

Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey play themselves in United Artists' The Fabulous Dorseys (1947), a film biography that also includes appearances by such musicians as Charlie Barnet, Art Tatum, and Bob Eberly; and songs including "Green Eyes," "Everybody's Doin' It," "I'll Never Say Never Again" and "Marie." In the RKO/Samuel Goldwyn musical A Song Is Born (1948), a musical remake by director Howard Hawks of his comedy hit Ball of Fire (1941), Tommy Dorsey appears with star Danny Kaye and fellow bandleaders Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet and Mel Powell. Dorsey's final feature-film appearance was a guest bit in Allied Artists' Disc Jockey (1951).

The films in TCM's salute to Tommy Dorsey are A Song Is Born (1948), Thrill of a Romance (1945), Girl Crazy (1943), Broadway Rhythm (1944) and DuBarry Was a Lady (1943).

by Roger Fristoe