Tommy Dorsey

Abstract Tommy Dorsey was a tough man to work for, but his high musical standards and good salaries always attracted excellent musicians and arrangers. Dorsey had a formidable temper and a ready pair of fists. He frequently fought with his brother Jimmy, especially when they were coleaders of the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. When Tommy broke up the partnership and set out on his own, part of his drive to succeed reportedly came from his desire to have a better band than Jimmy’s. Tommy’s primary concern was musicianship. Once, when he needed a trumpet player, he asked his band for suggestions. A musician said, “How about so-and-so? He’s a nice guy.” “Nice guys are a dime a dozen!” snapped Tommy. “Get me a prick that can play!” When Tommy found a musician he wanted, money was secondary. Willie Smith was leading Jimmy Lunceford’s saxophone section, and Dorsey decided to woo him onto his band. He drove out to the Larchmont, New York, casino that Lunceford had built and gave Smith a lift back to New York City after the job. When they stopped at Smith’s address, Dorsey pulled out a checkbook and signed his name to a check.