[Dixielandjazz] Jimmy Dorsey's 25th birthday

[Norman Vickers]

 Hello DJMLers:

This picked up from another list-- Jimmy Dorsey's centennial.  That he was
born on Leap Day makes it especially noteworthy.
FYI

Norman Vickers




>..... Jimmy Dorsey's twenty-fifth birthday.  It is on
February 29th, the day added to the calendar every four years (leap
year).  Jimmy Dorsey was born Feb. 29, 1904, so he would have been 100
years old in 2004.

Dorsey was the most illustrious and influential clarinetist of his
day.  Approximately 1925-1930 Dorsey was the nation's leading reedman.  He
was featured with touring ensembles such as the Scranton Sirens, the
California Ramblers, Jean Goldkette, Paul Whiteman and many other
groups.  He played in numerous Broadway pit orchestras.  These days Dorsey
is featured regularly on WDUQ's play list as a member of the Frankie
Trumbauer ensemble who, with a famous solo by Bix Beiderbecke, recorded
"Singin' The Blues (Till My Baby Comes Home)".  It is Dorsey's solo
clarinet that is heard on that record.

With his brother Tommy he formed the Dorsey Brothers orchestra -- at first
a recording group and later a regular working ensemble.
Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra was an outgrowth of the original Dorsey
Brothers Orchestra and achieved considerable success during the Swing
Era.  Saxophonist Charlie Parker confessed admiration for (and imitation
of) Dorsey's alto sax work.  Dorsey's orchestra continued to work into the
1950s with success.
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