Biography

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. 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. Joining ASCAP in 1941, his chief musical collaborators included Larry Clinton, Paul Mertz, and James Van Heusen. His other popular-song and instrumental compositions include "Oodles of Noodles", "John Silver", "Beebe", "Dusk in Upper Sandusky", "Waddlin' at the Waldorf", "It's the Dreamer In Me", and "Two Again". Date of Birth 29 February 1904, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania Date of Death 12 June 1957, New York City, New York  (lung cancer)

Birthday: 1904-02-29