A trombonist and bandleader, he appeared with his own orchestra in a few films of the 40's but is best remembered for his band's recordings - like "Marie" (sung by Jack Leonard) and "On the Sunny Side of the Street.".
2
His mother died on June 22, 1968, at the age of 93.
3
His brother, Jimmy, had an affair with Tommy's second wife, Patricia, before Patricia and Tommy met. Later, at one of Tommy's birthday parties, Jimmy shoved the cake in Patricia's face, leading to a fight between the two brothers.
4
His daughter, Pat, got married in February 1943 to Lester Hooker, who was to become a basketball coach at William and Mary and University of Richmond. They had three children and were married until his death in 1999. Dorsey was not happy about the marriage, as Pat was only seventeen.
5
His first wife obtained a divorce on the grounds of adultery.
6
He had an affair with Tallulah Bankhead during his first marriage.
7
His first wife was always called Toots.
8
His daughter, Patricia Marie Dorsey, was born on April 11, 1925. She was called Patsy or Pat. She now goes by Pat Dorsey Hooker.
9
His son, Thomas Francis "Skipper" Dorsey III, born September 9, 1930.
10
Edythe Wright was his mistress from 1935 until at least 1941. She joined his band in 1935, but left in 1939 after his wife found out and insisted she leave the band.
11
His two youngest children, Susan and Steve, did not attend his funeral because their mother felt that they were too young.
12
He had a son, Steve, with his third wife, Jane.
13
Frank Sinatra refused to be a part of his memorial show, saying, "I didn't like him. It would be inappropriate for me to appear on a memorial show." Buddy Rich refused to appear because Sinatra wouldn't appear.
14
His daughter, Catherine Susan "Susie," was born in November, 1949.
15
His father, Thomas Francis Dorsey, died in July 12, 1942.
16
He was the uncle of Julie Lou Dorsey.
17
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Reocrding at 6675 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
18
The Dorsey brothers' father, Thomas Dorsey, Sr., was a cornet-playing coal miner who also led the Shenandoah town band and gave music lessons on the side. He was his sons' first teacher. Their mother, Tess Dorsey, would outlive both her sons by several years.
19
Buried at Kensico Cemetary, Valhalla, New York. His grave marker in a granite slab with the raised outline of a trombone in the middle.
20
Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1981.
21
Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1989.
22
Pictured with brother Jimmy Dorsey on one of a set of four 29¢ US commemorative postage stamps in the Legends of American Music series, issued 11 September 1996, celebrating big band leaders. Other band leaders honored in this issue are Count Basie, Glenn Miller, and Benny Goodman.
23
The first variety show on which Elvis Presley appeared was Stage Show (1954), a summer replacement for The Jackie Gleason Show (1952), hosted by Dorsey and his brother Jimmy Dorsey. Jackie 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 another appearance on a rival TV show.
24
He and his brother Jimmy Dorsey formed The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1930. Tommy, the more temperamental one, is usually blamed for igniting the long-standing feud that broke them up in 1935. Apparently an argument erupted over the tempo of one of their songs, which led to Tommy's exit. They appeared together for one film in 1947, but did not reunite until 1953, when they reformed an orchestra. 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").
