Thomas Francis Dorsey, Jr. was a native of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, the second of four children born to Thomas Francis Dorsey, Sr. and Theresa (née Langton) Dorsey. The Dorsey brothers' two younger siblings were Mary and Edward (who died young).
At age 15, Jimmy recommended Tommy as the replacement for Russ Morgan in the seminal 1920s territory band "The Scranton Sirens." Tommy and Jimmy worked in several bands, including those of Tal Henry, Rudy Vallee, Vincent Lopez, and especially Paul Whiteman, before forming the original Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1934. Glenn Miller was a member of the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1934 and 1935, composing "Annie's Cousin Fanny" and "Dese Dem Dose" for the band. 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."
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.
Tommy Dorsey had seventeen number one hits with his orchestra in the 1930s and 1940s: "On Treasure Island", "The Music Goes 'Round and Around", "Alone", "You", "Marie", "Satan Takes a Holiday", "The Big Apple", "Once in a While", "The Dipsy Doodle", "Music, Maestro, Please", "Our Love", "All the Things You Are", "Indian Summer", "I'll Never Smile Again", "There Are Such Things", "In the Blue of Evening", and "Dolores". He had two more number one hits in 1935 when he was a member of the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra: "Lullaby of Broadway", number one for two weeks, and "Chasing Shadows", number one for three weeks. His biggest hit was "I'll Never Smile Again", featuring Frank Sinatra on vocals, which was number one for twelve weeks on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1940.
Tommy Dorsey composed several popular songs of the swing era, including "To You" and "This is No Dream", co-written with Benny Davis and Ted Shapiro in 1939; "You Taught Me To Love Again" in 1939, with music by Tommy Dorsey and Henri Woode and lyrics by Charles Carpenter, recorded by Gene Krupa and Sarah Vaughan; "In the Middle of a Dream" in 1939 with Al Stillman and Einar Aaron Swan, recorded by Glenn Miller and Red Norvo; "Three Moods"; "Night in Sudan" (1939); "The Morning After" in 1937 with Moe Jaffe and Clay Boland, also recorded by Red Norvo; "Peckin' with the Penguins", co-written with Deane Kincaide from the 1938 short movie feature Porky's Spring Planting; "You Can't Cheat a Cheater" with Frank Signorelli and Phil Napoleon; and, "Trombonology", which was recorded in 1947. Based on the collection of sheet music of the U.S. Library of Congress, Tommy Dorsey co-wrote "Chris and His Gang" in 1938 with Fletcher and Horace Henderson and "Nip and Tuck" with Fred Norman in 1946. "To You" was recorded in 1939 by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, and by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra. "This is No Dream" was recorded by Harry James and his Orchestra featuring Frank Sinatra on vocals and by Charlie Barnet and his Orchestra with vocals by Judy Ellington.
In 1956, Tommy Dorsey died at age 51 in his Greenwich, Connecticut home, choking in his sleep after a heavy meal following which he had taken sleeping pills. Jimmy Dorsey (out of whose band Tommy had walked two decades earlier) led his brother's band until his own death of throat cancer the following year. At that point, trombonist Warren Covington assumed leadership of the band with, presumably, Jane Dorsey's blessing (she owned the rights to her late husband's band and name) and it produced, ironically enough, the biggest selling hit record ever released under the Dorsey name. Billed as the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Starring Warren Covington, they topped the charts in 1958 with Tea For Two Cha-Cha. Covington led the Dorsey band through 1970 (he also led and recorded with his own organisation), after which Jane Dorsey renamed it, simply, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, which is conducted today by Buddy Morrow, featuring vocalist Rob Zappulla. Jane Dorsey died of natural causes at the age of 80 in 2003.
Hawaiian War Chant
Tommy Dorsey 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.