There were many forms of music in the 1930s, it was one of the greatest eras for music. Thomas (also known as Tommy) Dorsey was one of the amazing composers of the time period. He was so talented that he and his brother, Jimmy, had a movie made about themselves The Fabulous Dorseys. Tommy Dorsey was by far, the greatest musician of the decade.
Dorsey had an unbelievable amount of natural talent. Dorsey was “born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1905” (Yanow 191). He grew up to be a great man. His father is the one who had started his musical interest, he “locked him up to play music on several instruments, to play it and play it again [...]” (Barnett 1). The boys’ father may have seemed harsh, but he really influenced the young …show more content…
Tommy Dorsey and his brother were very different “‘Jimmy was always the level headed one,’ Bill Ranks [...] remembered, ‘Tommy was impulsive and aggressive’” (“Thomas Francis Dorsey” 1). He was likely the most aggressive band leader there was. Even though he had a temper race did not affect who was in his band; he even “had to fight on behalf of his black musicians [...] at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Tommy had to threaten that the whole band would walkout to ensure Shavers [a black musician] would be allowed onstage” (Larsen 1). He was not like most whites, race did not matter to him. He allowed any black into his band, as long as they met his extremely high instrumental standards on their instruments. But if they did, it did not matter if they were black or white. Once, people threatened his team and with “nothing more than a lethal trombone, Tommy singlehandedly scared off five angry racists armed with baseball bats” (Larsen 2). Tommy Dorsey was fearless a fearless man. Which gave him the courage to do a lot for his musicians he “would [even] fight for minorities’ rights to stay in the same hotel or at the same spot as the rest of the band” (Singer 1). Nothing could scare this musician, he was always ready to get what wanted when he wanted it. But he had very short fuse, especially when it came to his brother he “would [...] throw instrument and whatever else …show more content…
He had people in his life that cared about him; “ [he] married Mildred Kraft; they had two children. [And] Jimmy broke down and cried on Rank’s shoulders lamenting the loss of his roommate” (“Thomas Francis Dorsey”1). And even though Dorsey and his brother often fought, Jimmy was very attached to his brother. But even though the brother’s bond was once strong it eventually broke, “[they] split up at the Glen Island Casino [...] [and in 1935 he] formed his own band by assuming [...] the Joe Haymes Orchestra.” (Yanow 191). And that was the temporary end to the Dorsey combo. His marriage did not go so well either in “1941 he was divorced and on Apr. 8, 1943, he married Pat Dane. That marriage also ended in divorce. On Mar. 27, 1948, he married Jane New; they had two children” (“Thomas Francis Dorsey”2). Due to Dorsey’s temper he had a hard time keeping relationships. He had a difficulty keeping a wife, and staying friends with his own flesh and blood, Jimmy. But thankfully the brothers eventually reunited “in 1947 to play themselves in the fictionalized autobiographical film The Fabulous Dorseys” (“Thomas Dorsey” 1). And finally the Dorsey bond was restored. Even though it twelve years to recover from their argument, the went back to making music together. Even though most of his relationships did not last or had a lot of up’s and down’s he was still the best musician from the
Dorsey had an unbelievable amount of natural talent. Dorsey was “born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1905” (Yanow 191). He grew up to be a great man. His father is the one who had started his musical interest, he “locked him up to play music on several instruments, to play it and play it again [...]” (Barnett 1). The boys’ father may have seemed harsh, but he really influenced the young …show more content…
Tommy Dorsey and his brother were very different “‘Jimmy was always the level headed one,’ Bill Ranks [...] remembered, ‘Tommy was impulsive and aggressive’” (“Thomas Francis Dorsey” 1). He was likely the most aggressive band leader there was. Even though he had a temper race did not affect who was in his band; he even “had to fight on behalf of his black musicians [...] at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Tommy had to threaten that the whole band would walkout to ensure Shavers [a black musician] would be allowed onstage” (Larsen 1). He was not like most whites, race did not matter to him. He allowed any black into his band, as long as they met his extremely high instrumental standards on their instruments. But if they did, it did not matter if they were black or white. Once, people threatened his team and with “nothing more than a lethal trombone, Tommy singlehandedly scared off five angry racists armed with baseball bats” (Larsen 2). Tommy Dorsey was fearless a fearless man. Which gave him the courage to do a lot for his musicians he “would [even] fight for minorities’ rights to stay in the same hotel or at the same spot as the rest of the band” (Singer 1). Nothing could scare this musician, he was always ready to get what wanted when he wanted it. But he had very short fuse, especially when it came to his brother he “would [...] throw instrument and whatever else …show more content…
He had people in his life that cared about him; “ [he] married Mildred Kraft; they had two children. [And] Jimmy broke down and cried on Rank’s shoulders lamenting the loss of his roommate” (“Thomas Francis Dorsey”1). And even though Dorsey and his brother often fought, Jimmy was very attached to his brother. But even though the brother’s bond was once strong it eventually broke, “[they] split up at the Glen Island Casino [...] [and in 1935 he] formed his own band by assuming [...] the Joe Haymes Orchestra.” (Yanow 191). And that was the temporary end to the Dorsey combo. His marriage did not go so well either in “1941 he was divorced and on Apr. 8, 1943, he married Pat Dane. That marriage also ended in divorce. On Mar. 27, 1948, he married Jane New; they had two children” (“Thomas Francis Dorsey”2). Due to Dorsey’s temper he had a hard time keeping relationships. He had a difficulty keeping a wife, and staying friends with his own flesh and blood, Jimmy. But thankfully the brothers eventually reunited “in 1947 to play themselves in the fictionalized autobiographical film The Fabulous Dorseys” (“Thomas Dorsey” 1). And finally the Dorsey bond was restored. Even though it twelve years to recover from their argument, the went back to making music together. Even though most of his relationships did not last or had a lot of up’s and down’s he was still the best musician from the