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 201-225 of 623 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decca | 39542 | 10-in. | 5/27/1935 | I'll never say never again again | Dorsey Brothers Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39543 | 10-in. | 5/27/1935 | Chasing shadows | Dorsey Brothers Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39544 | 10-in. | 5/27/1935 | Ev'ry single little tingle of my heart | Dorsey Brothers Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39797 | 10-in. | 8/1/1935 | My very good friend the milkman | The Dorsey Brothers | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39798 | 10-in. | 8/1/1935 | You' re so darn charming | The Dorsey Brothers | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39799 | 10-in. | 8/1/1935 | No strings | The Dorsey Brothers | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39800 | 10-in. | 8/1/1935 | Top hat, white tie and tails | The Dorsey Brothers | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39801 | 10-in. | 8/1/1935 | You saved my life | The Dorsey Brothers | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39802 | 10-in. | 8/1/1935 | I couldn't believe my eyes | The Dorsey Brothers | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39852 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | From the top of your head | Bing Crosby | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39853 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | I wish I were Aladdin | Bing Crosby | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39854 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | Takes two to make a bargain | Bing Crosby | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39855 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | Two for tonight | Bing Crosby | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39856 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | Without a word of warning | Bing Crosby | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39857 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | I wished on the moon | Bing Crosby | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39962 | 10-in. | 9/11/1935 | The gentleman obviously doesn't believe | Dorsey Brothers Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39963 | 10-in. | 9/11/1935 | I've got a feelin' you're foolin' | Dorsey Brothers Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39964 | 10-in. | 9/11/1935 | On a Sunday afternoon | Dorsey Brothers Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39965 | 10-in. | 9/11/1935 | You are my lucky star | Dorsey Brothers Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39983 | 10-in. | 8/23/1935 | When love comes your way | Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone, leader | ||
| Decca | 39984 | 10-in. | 9/19/1935 | A picture of me without you | Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone, leader | ||
| Decca | 39985 | 10-in. | 9/19/1935 | Me and Marie | Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone, leader | ||
| Decca | 39986 | 10-in. | 9/19/1935 | Why shouldn't I? | Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone, leader | ||
| Decca | 60032 | 10-in. | 10/10/1935 | Washington grays | Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone, leader | ||
| Decca | 60033 | 10-in. | 10/10/1935 | Tap dancer's nightmare | Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone, leader |
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
External Sources
Wikipedia: Jimmy Dorsey
Discogs: Jimmy Dorsey
Allmusic: Jimmy Dorsey
Grove: Jimmy Dorsey
IMDb: Jimmy Dorsey
Britannica: Jimmy Dorsey
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Dorsey, Jimmy, 1904-1957 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82077171
Wikidata: Jimmy Dorsey - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q560716
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/22327067
MusicBrainz: Jimmy Dorsey - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/3b6956ed-37d2-4436-bf09-de901f0101e9
Fast: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/93536 - http://id.worldcat.org/fast/93536
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
Feedback
Send the Editors a message about this record.