Thomas Francis Dorsey, Jr. was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, and started out only 16 years later in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with big band leader Russ Morgan in the famous pick-up band of the 1920s "The Scranton Sirens".
Tommy and his brother Jimmy worked in several bands, including those of Rudy Vallee, Vincent Lopez, and especially Paul Whiteman, before forming the original Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1934. Ongoing acrimony between the brothers, however, led to Tommy Dorsey's walking out to form his own band in 1935, just as the Orchestra was having a hit with "Every Little Moment."
Tommy Dorsey's first band formed out of the remnant of the Joe Haymes band, and his smooth, lyrical trombone style – whether on ballads or on no-holds-barred swingers – became one of the signature sounds of both his band and the Swing Era. The new band hit from almost the moment it signed with RCA Victor with "On Treasure Island", the first of four hits for the new band that year. That led to a run of 137 Billboard chart hits, including his theme song, "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" (which showcases his phenomenal range and masterful mute use, reaching up to the high C #), "Marie", "The Big Apple", "Music, Maestro, Please", "I'll Never Smile Again", "This Love of Mine", "On the Sunny Side of the Street", "T.D.'s Boogie Woogie", "Well, Git 'It", "Opus One", "Manhattan Serenade", and "There Are Such Things" – among many others.
The band featured a number of the best instrumentalists in jazz at the time, including trumpeters Bunny Berigan, Ziggy Elman, George Seaberg, Carl "Doc" Severinsen, and Charlie Shavers, pianist Jess Stacy, trumpeter/arranger/composer Sy Oliver (who wrote "Well, Git 'It" and "Opus One"), clarinetists Buddy DeFranco, Johnny Mince and Peanuts Hucko drummers Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, Gene Krupa and Dave Tough and singers Jack Leonard, Edythe Wright, Jo Stafford, Dick Haymes and Frank Sinatra. Sinatra achieved his first great success as a vocalist in the Dorsey band and claimed he learned breath control from watching Dorsey play trombone. Dorsey said his trombone style was heavily influenced by that of Jack Teagarden. Another member of the Dorsey band probably spent considerable time observing and listening to Sy Oliver's striking arrangements: trombonist Nelson Riddle, whose later partnership as Sinatra's major arranger and conductor is considered to have revolutionised post-World War II popular music.
Dorsey might have broken up his own band permanently following World War II, as many big bands did due to the shift in music economics following the war, and he did disband the orchestra at the end of 1946. But a top-ten selling album (All-Time Hits) made it possible for Dorsey to re-organise a big band in early 1947.
The biographical film of 1947, "The Fabulous Dorseys" describes sketchy details of how the brothers got their start from-the-bottom-up into the jazz era of one-nighters, the early days of radio in its infancy stages, and the onward march when both brothers ended up with Paul Whiteman before 1935 when The Dorsey Brothers' Orchestra split into two.
The Dorsey brothers themselves later reconciled – Jimmy Dorsey had had to break up his own highly successful big band in 1953, and brother Tommy invited him to join up as a feature attraction – but before long Tommy renamed the band the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. On December 26, 1953, the brothers appeared with their orchestra on Jackie Gleason's CBS television show, which was preserved on kinescope and later released on home video by Gleason. The brothers took the unit on tour and onto their own television show, Stage Show, from 1954 to 1956, on which they introduced Elvis Presley to national television audiences, among others.
Hawaiian War Chant
Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That was started by a native down in Waikiki
He would gather a crowd down beside the sea
And they'd play his gay Hawaiian chant
Soon the other little natives started singin' it
And the hula hula maidens started swingin' it
Like a tropical storm that's the way it hit
Funny little gay Hawaiian Chant
Tho it started on an island down Hawaii way
It's as popular in Tennessee or Ioway
If you wander into any cabaret
You will hear this gay Hawaiian Chant
The lyrics to Tommy Dorsey's song Hawaiian War Chant describe the origins of a catchy melody that was created by a native in Waikiki, a small beachside town in Hawaii. The melody was so captivating that it attracted a crowd of natives who would gather down beside the sea to listen. Soon, other natives followed suit, and the hula hula maidens began to perform traditional Hawaiian dances while singing the melody.
As the song progresses, we learn that the melody's popularity rapidly spread beyond its beginnings in Hawaii. Its infectious rhythm and upbeat tempo became well-known in states like Tennessee and Ioway and could be heard in any cabaret you wandered into. The lyrics paint an uplifting picture of the song's origins, the joy it brings, and its unstoppable momentum that travels far beyond its roots.
Overall, the Hawaiian War Chant has an enchanting sound that is emblematic of the Hawaiian music genre's sunshine, beaches, and laid back vibe. While the lyrics don't convey any deep meaning or profound messages, they do give us a glimpse into the carefree spirit of Hawaiian music.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a sunny little funny little melody
There exists a bright and humorous tune that continues to inspire many.
That was started by a native down in Waikiki
It originated from a local individual in Waikiki.
He would gather a crowd down beside the sea
The individual in question would assemble people together along the ocean.
And they'd play his gay Hawaiian chant
Together they'd play and sing his cheerful Polynesian tune.
Soon the other little natives started singin' it
Additional locals soon began to voice and harmonize along to it.
And the hula hula maidens started swingin' it
Female hula dancers started to move their bodies and sway along to it.
Like a tropical storm that's the way it hit
The tune hit like a violent and intense tropical storm.
Funny little gay Hawaiian Chant
It is a cheerful, humorous Polynesian song.
Ow way tah tualan Me big bad fightin' man
A line from the song in the Polynesian language.
Tho it started on an island down Hawaii way
Although it was first sung on an island in Hawaii.
It's as popular in Tennessee or Ioway
It is just as well-liked in states like Tennessee and Iowa.
If you wander into any cabaret
If you visit any nightclub.
You will hear this gay Hawaiian Chant
You will most likely hear this bright, light-hearted Polynesian tune.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JOHNNY NOBLE, RALPH FREED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@STho205
Those are my two favorite hot music big band arrangements of the late 30s. Both are instrumental rock....for the rock and roll jitterbug dance beat popular in 1937 to 41. It got rediscovered in 1955 in shortform for 45s.
Goodman's variation on Louie Primas Sing Sing Sing diddy is what I consider the cumulation of a american forms up to that date:
Folk
Ragtime
Symphonic
Sousa
Jewish Jazz
Black Jazz
Italian Jazz
American Indian Traditional
Spanish
All in one longform piece squeezed on two sides of an oversized 78.
@alightthatnevergoesout
Nothing more enjoyable in drumming than whacking the floor tom. I know Buddy had the time of his life playing this music. May God rest his soul.
@sulladrum
As good as this is, the single stroke roll at the end is amazing. He had incredible stamina and speed right up to the end of his life
@chrismorfas7515
Makes ya think our parents and grandparents had a point about their music being pretty good, too.
@jamespfitz
It was GREAT!
@Blaqjaqshellaq
And their movies!
@jamescoulton5138
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@phillipecook3227
It'd be nice to see these suits back in fashion.
@noneofurbusiness5223
Fond memories mid-1960's. 4 family members dancing 💃 in a conga line inside a little house 🏠, two of us under 5 in VaBch.