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Jimmy Dorsey

James Francis Dorsey (February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader. He recorded and composed the jazz and pop standards "I'm Glad There Is You (In This World of Ordinary People)" and "It's The Dreamer In Me". His other major recordings were "Tailspin", "John Silver", "So Many Times", "Amapola", "Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil)", "Pennies from Heaven" with Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and Frances Langford, "Grand Central Getaway", and "So Rare". He played clarinet on the seminal jazz standards "Singin' the Blues" in 1927 and the original 1930 recording of "Georgia on My Mind", which were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born Shenandoah, Died June 12, 1957 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, clarinet, leader, songwriter, baritone saxophone, composer, trumpet, cornet, arranger, saxophone

Notes: Sometimes listed as James Dorsey.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 176-200 of 623 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 39242 10-in. 1/11/1935 You ain't been livin' right Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39243 12-in. 1/11/1935 Solitude Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39264 10-in. 1/18/1935 Tiny little fingerprints Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39265 10-in. 1/18/1935 I'm facing the music Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39266 10-in. 1/18/1935 I threw a bean bag at the moon Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39267 10-in. 1/18/1935 The farmer takes a wife Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39278 10-in. 1/25/1935 Don't be afraid to tell your mother Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39280 10-in. 1/26/1935 Lullaby of Broadway Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39281 10-in. 1/26/1935 The words are in my heart Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39282 10-in. 1/26/1935 I'm goin' shoppin' with you Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39292 10-in. 1/29/1935 I believe in miracles Greta Keller instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39293 10-in. 1/29/1935 Blue moon Greta Keller instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39337 10-in. 2/6/1935 Harlem chapel chimes Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39338 10-in. 2/6/1935 I've got your number Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39339 10-in. 2/6/1935 You're O.K. Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39340 10-in. 2/6/1935 Weary blues Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39341 12-in. 2/6/1935 Weary blues Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39342 10-in. 2/6/1935 Tailspin Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39343 10-in. 2/6/1935 Eccentric Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39344 10-in. 2/6/1935 Dese dem dose Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39345 10-in. 2/6/1935 Dippermouth blues Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39346 10-in. 2/6/1935 Tomorrow's another day Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39539 10-in. 5/27/1935 Footloose and fancy free Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39540 10-in. 5/27/1935 Every little moment Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 39541 10-in. 5/27/1935 You're all I need Dorsey Brothers Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
(Results 176-200 of 623 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dorsey, Jimmy," accessed December 12, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103670.

Dorsey, Jimmy. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103670.

"Dorsey, Jimmy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 12 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103670

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