Tommy Dorsey (November 19, 1905 - November 26, 1956) was a jazz trombonist in the Big Band era.
Thomas Dorsey was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania and is the younger brother of Jimmy Dorsey.
He worked with many bands in the New York City area starting in the 1920s, including the bands of Rudy Vallee, Vincent Lopez, and Paul Whiteman. With brother Jimmy, he led the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra until they split up in 1935. The brothers also appeared as session musicians on many jazz recordings.
Tommy Dorsey formed his own band, which was very successful.
The band featured trumpeters Bunny Berigan and Charlie Shavers, arranger Sy Oliver, and singers Jo Stafford and Frank Sinatra. Sinatra achieved his first great success as a vocalist in the Dorsey band and claimed he learned breath control from watching Dorsey play trombone.
Pan American World Airways's president Juan Trippe was a member of his band in 1940.
Dorsey said his trombone style was heavily influenced by that of Jack Teagarden.
Tommy Dorsey died suddenly at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut and was interred in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York
Trombonist and band leader Tommy Dorsey should not be confused with pianist and jazz and gospel composer Thomas A. Dorsey.
