The older of the two Dorsey brothers was a musical prodigy who began his musical career at the age of seven playing the slide trumpet and cornet with his father's brass band at local parties. His father was a working class man who wanted a better life for his children and made them study music, diligently. By the time he was 17, Jimmy was playing with the Jean Goldkette band with Bix Beiderbecke and Frank Trumbauer.

During the 1920's the Goldkette Orchestra had broken up, and Jimmy, along with Bix and Trumbauer joined Paul Whiteman's group. Jimmy left the Whiteman group and freelanced around playing with Red Nichols. In 1933 Jimmy and younger brother Tommy formed their famous “Dorsey Brothers Orchestra” which included drummer Ray McKinley, trombonist Glen Miller and singer Bob Crosby. Their band continued through the early thirties until a dispute in 1935 over the tempo of a song separated the brothers for decades.

Jimmy found himself the instant leader of the band that became the birth of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. His records sold well in the late thirties, but as the forties got under way it was apparent that his momentum was increasing. With hits like “Amapola” and “Green Eyes”, featuring Helen O'Connell, the band jumped to the top of the charts making Jimmy the biggest success story of the year. Other hit selling records and a series of motion pictures followed, establishing him firmly at the top.

Helen played an important part of the band's success, both on records and in personal appearances. Her hits “I Remember You”, “Tangerine”, and many others took her to the top of the charts.

During the early fifties, Jimmy was still a successful name in the business. Even with all of his success, he joined forces with his brother Tommy in 1953 to become the greatest band of all time!

With the untimely death of Tommy in 1956, Jimmy once again was left to carry on, but only for a short time as his own health was failing rapidly. In 1957, he left us with his last and greatest hit “So Rare” topping the nation's popularity charts.

The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra has continued successfully for decades, and is still in great demand all over the world. The past success of the Orchestra was due to the leadership of Lee Castle and more recently, from 1990 through the new millennium, the leadership of Jim Miller. The baton has now passed to Bill Tole who will continue to bring joy to the young and the “young at heart” as they enjoy the sounds of American music - our history.

BILL TOLE

Bill's experience, expertise, and qualifications early on made him a much sought after musician. He moved to New York City in the 1960's where he kept very busy playing in many of the top Broadway shows, numerous club dates with top headliner artists, as well as playing countless recordings during the prime of New York City studio days. In 1967, Bill relocated to Los Angeles where he continued his musical career playing for recordings, commercials, and movies.

Bill's career took a dramatic turn when a producer put out a casting call for a trombonist to portray Tommy Dorsey in a film. Bill had the musical credentials to land the part and looked just like that “sentimental gentleman” in the movie “New York, New York”, released in 1977. The film starred Liza Minelli and Robert Deniro. In Bill, they not only found a professional trombone player who understood the musical era, but who also had his own big band for the movie! As a bonus, the producer was pleased to find that Bill also played as sweet as Dorsey.

Bill has performed with many of the great stars over the years. He has recorded with legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Barry Manilow, Tom Jones, Pearl Bailey, as well as many recordins and television specials with Frank Sinatra. Bill has also performed with many of the big bands including Ray Anthony, Tex Beneke, Louis Bellson, Les Brown, Bob Crosby, Harry James, and Nelson Riddle.

Bill continues his musical success as the leader of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. The combined energy of the band with Bill's sweet, smooth, sentimental style will take the listening audience from the 1940's right through the decades to the present day.

NANCY KNORR

Nancy has had a noted singing career performing throughout the country with some of the best known orchestras in the world of Big Band music. Her talents have complimented the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Tex Beneke and His Orchestra, The Warren Covington Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and many, many others.

Nancy has performed and shared the stage with Toni Tennile, Jack Jones, Hal Linden, Doc Severinsen, and Les Brown. Nancy was also a featured performer on a PBS television special entitled “Those Fabulous Forties”.

Nancy's incredible talent and her love of close harmony singing are evident in the acquisition and the current success of the famed Pied Pipers where she has been the lead singer since 1983.

Nancy has continued her successful musical career as a soloist and featured singer with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, with a tribute to the legendary Helen O'Connell, as well as recreating the elegance and sounds of the 1940's with her own style and vocal ease.

 

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