Trivia

In 1938 Jimmy was included in "Ripley's 'Believe It Or Not'" for being able to play "The Flight of the Bumblebee" in two breaths. Later, on the CBS television show "Swing Time", Jimmy performed the tune in one breath.

Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey formed The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1930. Tommy, the more temperamental one, is usually blamed for igniting the longstanding feud that broke them up in 1935. Apparently an argument erupted over the tempo of one of their songs, which led to Tommy storming out. They appeared together in one film in 1947, but did not reunite their bands until 1953. 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").

Had an affair with brother, Tommy Dorsey,'s second wife, Patricia Dane, before Tommy and Patricia had even met.

The first variety show on which Elvis Presley appeared was Stage Show (1954), a summer replacement for The Jackie Gleason Show (1952), hosted by former big band leaders Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. 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 an appearance on a rival TV show.

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.

He called his wife "Beebe.".

His wife was Miss Detroit of 1925.

Older brother of bandleader Tommy Dorsey.

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1983.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6506 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

He had one daughter, Julie Lou, with his wife Jane Porter.

He met his wife in 1924.

A clarinetist, saxophonist and bandleader, he appeared with his own orchestra in a few films of the 40's but is much better remembered for his band's recordings - like "Green Eyes" and "Tangerine" (both of them sung by 'Helen O'Connell' and Bob Eberly).