Jimmy Dorsey

Legendary saxophonist, conductor, songwriter and composer ("I'm Glad There Is You" and "Contrasts" [his theme]), educated in public schools and a cornet student of his father. Through the 1920s he was a saxophonist in orchestras including those of Paul Whiteman, Red Nichols, and the California Ramblers.

Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey formed The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1930. Tommy, the more temperamental one, is usually blamed for igniting the longstanding feud that broke them up in 1935. Apparently an argument erupted over the tempo of one of their songs, which led to Tommy storming out. They appeared together in one film in 1947, but did not reunite their bands until 1953. The final years of their lives were spent co-hosting a musical variety show, which introduced Elvis Presley to TV for the first time (he sang "Heartbreak Hotel").

He formed an orchestra with his brother, Tommy Dorsey, lasting from 1933 to 1935, and then led his own orchestra, rejoining Tommy's orchestra in 1953 and taking over the orchestra at Tommy's death. He made many records.

In 1938 Jimmy was included in "Ripley's 'Believe It Or Not'" for being able to play "The Flight of the Bumblebee" in two breaths. Later, on the CBS television show "Swing Time", Jimmy performed the tune in one breath.

The first variety show on which Elvis Presley appeared was Stage Show (1954), a summer replacement for The Jackie Gleason Show (1952), hosted by former big band leaders Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. Gleason, the show's producer, later apologized for putting on "a porno act" and Ed Sullivan said he would never have anything like that on his show. Sullivan later changed his mind after Elvis made an appearance on a rival TV show.

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1983.