Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr

 Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956)

Dorsey was a jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-toned trombone playing. His theme song was I'm Getting Sentimental Over You. His technical skill on the trombone gave him renown among other musicians. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey. After Dorsey broke with his brother in the mid-1930s, he led an extremely popular and highly successful band from the late 1930s into the 1950s. He is best remembered for standards such as "Opus One", "Song of India", "Marie", "On Treasure Island", and his biggest hit single, "I'll Never Smile Again". A number of famous singers sang with his band: Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Jack Leonard, Edythe Wright, Connie Haines, Anita Boyer and the vocal group the Pied Pipers. The Dorsey brothers were reunited for a bio-movie, 'The Fabulous Dorseys,' in 1947. The also formed a new band known as 'The Fabulous Dorseys.' They enjoyed some success mainly from a television show entitled 'Stage Show' on CBS. One episode featured a then unknown Elvis Presley. However, the reunion didn't last long, as Tommy died suddenly in his sleep at his Greenwich Connecticut residence at age 51. Jimmy diagnosed with cancer underwent a major operation and less then six months after his brothers death, he too, was gone at the age of 53. Tommy Dorsey is buried at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. Jimmy Dorsey is interred at Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary Church Cemetery in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania.