TOMMY DORSEY: THE SENTIMENTAL GENTLEMAN

Originally broadcast on WDCB
Saturday, July 6, 2002

TOMMY DORSEY AND HIS ORCHESTRA (2­20-37) Excerpt. Remote from the Palm Room of the Hotel Commodore in New York City. Tommy and the orchestra present “There’s Something in the Air,” “Song of India,” and “Melody in F.” Vocals by Jack Leonard and the Three Esquires. Sustaining, MBS. (9 min)

RALEIGH-KOOL CIGARETTE PROGRAM (1-14-­38) Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra in a spe­cial broadcast tracing the history of swing music. The Dorsey band recreates a number of old recordings in the actual style of the pe­riod. Vocals by Edythe Wright, Jack Leonard, the Three Esquires. Guest is bass saxist Adrian Rollini. Paul Stewart announces. Selections include “Memphis Blues,” “Tiger Rag,” “Whis­pering,” “Japanese Sandman,” “Night and Day,” “Posin’,” and “Marie.” Raleigh and Kool Cigarettes, NBC. (28 min)

TOMMY DORSEY AND HIS ORCHESTRA (1940) Remote broadcast from the Astor Roof of the Hotel Astor in New York City. This is an International broadcast with all announce­ments in Spanish, “short-waved to our Latin-American neighbors.” Vocals by Jo Stafford, Frank Sinatra, Connie Haines, Pied Pipers. Songs include “Sweet Lorraine,” “Imagina­tion,” “East of the Sun,” and “Devil’s Holi­day.” Sustaining, NBC-White. (29 min)

TOMMY DORSEY AND COMPANY (6-24-45) Featuring the Dorsey orchestra with Charlie Shavers on trumpet, Buddy Rich on drums, and vocalists Stuart Foster and the Sentimen­talists. Guest is actress Paulette Goddard who co-stars with Tommy as a romantic couple in a sketch looking back at the year 1940. Mu­sic includes “Sentimental Journey,” “Chloe,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” and “I’ll Never Smile Again.” AFRS. (30 min)

TOMMY AND JIMMY DORSEY (6-4-55) Ex­cerpts. Live recording of a Dorsey Brothers dance date at the Jantzen Beach Ballroom, Portland, Oregon with vocals by Bill Raymond and Shirley Jeanne. Music includes “Marie,” “Tangerine,” “One O’clock Jump.” (26 min) OUR SPECIAL GUEST is big band historian Karl Pearson who will talk about Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra and offer clips and excepts of various Dorsey broadcasts and recordings.