The younger of the two Dorsey siblings was a child prodigy. He began his musical career as a musician at age seven, playing the cornet and slide trumpet with his father’s brass group at local parties. His father was a working-class man who wanted better lives for his children. He made sure that they studied music. Jimmy, then 17, was already playing in the Jean Goldkette Band with Bix Beiderbecke u0026 Frankie Trumbauer. The Goldkette Orchestra was disbanded in the 1920’s and Jimmy joined Paul Whiteman’s group with Trumbauer and Bix. Jimmy quit Whiteman’s band and began playing freelance with Red Nichols. Jimmy and Tommy, their younger brother, formed the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1933. It included guitarist Ray McKinley and trombonist Glenn Miller as well as Bob Crosby, singer and drummer. The band was disbanded after the brothers continued to feud. Jimmy was part of the famous Friday afternoon jam sessions held at the Park Lane Hotel in 1938 by Eddie Condon. These included Sidney Bechet and Bobby Hackett as well as Willie “The Lion” Smith and Bud Freeman. Jimmy formed a new band that was a commercial success and featured the popular singers Helen O’Connell, Bob Eberly. Jimmy and Tommy were reunited in 1953, just a few years after “The Fabulous Dorseys” was released. They continued to play together until Tommy’s passing in 1956. Jimmy led the band until ill health forced him to stop performing. He died in mid-1957 from http://www.redhotjazz.com
