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.
Marie
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Marie, you'll soon be waking (girl of my dreams, I want you)
To find our heart's are aching (have a little faith in me, la-la-la-la)
And tears will fall as you recall (tears will fall again)
The moon in all its splendor (on a night like this, we go bettin' in the park)
Your kiss, so very tender (all the way my kiss, darlin')
The words, "Will you surrender
To me, Marie?"
The song "Marie" by Tommy Dorsey Orchestra is a beautiful ballad about a man named Marie who is experiencing heartbreak and sadness after being left by his lover. The lyrics start with Marie acknowledging that the dawn is breaking and soon he will need to face the reality of his heartache. The repetition of Marie's name in the lyrics emphasizes the emotional pain he is feeling. He remembers the moon in all of its splendor, a reminder of a time when love was present in his life. The kiss he shared with his lover is described as very tender, hinting at a genuine connection between the two. However, all of these memories only amplify the pain Marie is feeling as he recalls his lover's departure.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more melancholic as Marie's desperation grows. He remembers the words his lover spoke, "will you surrender to me, Marie?" Perhaps this was a plea to keep the relationship intact, and Marie now regrets not fighting for love. The repetition of the lyrics "Marie, Marie" is seen as a personal quirk, as if saying the name brings the person closer, giving a sense of false comfort.
Overall, the song speaks to a universal experience of heartbreak, and how even beautiful memories can amplify the pain when one is left alone. It is a bittersweet reminder that life goes on, and each day Marie must face the pain of losing love.
Line by Line Meaning
Marie, Marie, Marie
The singer is addressing Marie by repeating her name three times.
Marie, the dawn is breaking
The dawn is breaking, meaning it is early morning.
Marie, (ooh, Marie) you'll soon be waking
Marie will soon be waking up.
To find you heart is aching
Marie will find her heart aching.
And tears, (and tears) will fall, (will fall) as you recall
Marie will cry and be upset as she remembers.
The moon in all its splendor
The beautiful sight of the moon is what Marie will remember.
A kiss, (ooh, a kiss) so very tender
Marie will remember a tender kiss.
The words, "Will you surrender
The words "Will you surrender" will be remembered.
To me, (Marie), Marie, (Marie)?"
The singer wants Marie to surrender to him.
Marie, you'll soon be waking
Marie will soon wake up.
To find you heart is aching
Marie's heart will still be aching.
And tears, (and tears) will fall, (will fall) as you recall
Marie will continue to cry as she remembers.
The moon in all its splendor
The beautiful sight of the moon will still be on Marie's mind.
A kiss, (ooh, a kiss) so very tender
The memory of a tender kiss will still be with Marie.
The words, "Will you surrender
The words "Will you surrender" will still be remembered.
To me, (Marie), Marie, (Marie) Marie (Marie)?"
The singer is still asking Marie to surrender to him and is repeating her name.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bethbartlett5692
@@bobboscarato1313
I trust that, my Dad was as well.
Virgo, "craftsmanship" to details. Most worthy.
That he did. Sinatra grasp the subject and amazed every vocal artist whom ever listened, with his technique.
Sinatra's Folks Managed my husband (we, the husband and I, are no longer under contract, but he remains a superb Vocal Artist) Tony Oppesadino and the late one and only Jilly.
Miss the Music and so many dear friends - was truly wonderful, Sinatra too. ❤
Best Wellbeing ...
@davidbowles7047
I remember my Dad humming this song all of my life, I'm crying now because I miss him so much.
He was a POW in WW2
Battle of the Bulge.
@alsuz
God bless you, David.
@patricecalacione5052
My father too, captured in north africa 1942, 3 1/2 years a pow, he didn t know what happened in the world for those years about the war, music etc, so he had alot of catching up to do
@mrbojangles977
Your dad must have been a fabulous man ..
@pilsudski36
Much respect to your father, and to all who served with him.
@davidbowles7047
@@pilsudski36 thank you ❤️
@seymourblau6818
Grew up with this music, thank god!
@mauirascal
Me, too! Music will never be up to the standards of those years...the 40's! The greatest years of my life!
@juanleonardomerlosrosales8294
My father danced to this song with my mother back in the 1940s. I will dance it with my wife María this October when she celebrates her 50th wedding anniversary. At our Golden Weddings.
@shesmintygreen
I'm always a fan of jazz and swing and this is one of my favourites and it has my name in it, Marie