Died On This Date (June 12, 1957) Jimmy Dorsey / Iconic Jazz Figure
themusicsover Jimmy Dorsey
February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957
Jimmy Dorsey was a popular jazz musician, composer and band leader throughout most of the ’20s to ’50s. He was also the older brother of fellow jazz great, Tommy Dorsey. Dorsey’s music career in vaudeville when he was still in his early teens. Over the years, he worked with Rudy Vallee, Ted Lewis, and probably most famously, Helen O’Connell, with whom he scored several hits. Dorsey lead his own band through most of his career, until joining up with his brother to perform as The Fabulous Dorseys in 1953. T0gether they hosted the popular Stage Show program on TV beginning in 1954. Unfortunately, Jimmy Dorsey died of throat cancer just a few years later in 1957.
Danny Davis was a country musician, producer and band leader who many credit for introducing horns into country music. With his Nashville Brass, Davis won a Grammy in 1970 for The Nashville Brass Featuring Danny Davis Play The Nashville Sound. During the ’80s, Davis played as part of the band on the television hit program, Hee Haw. He continued performing well into the ’90s, and played a final performance with the Nashville Brass in July of 2005 as part of his 80th birthday celebration. Danny Davis suffered a heart attack on June 7th, 2008 and passed away five days later.
At 105 years old, Huey Long was the last surviving member of Doo Wop legends, the Ink Spots. Long’s career began back in 1925 as a banjoist for one of Houston’s most popular Dixieland bands of the ’20s, Frank Davis’ Louisiana Jazz Band. He later moved to Chicago and switched to the more popular guitar. In 1944, he was asked to join the Ink Spots with whom he stayed for the next 40 years. Long passed away of natural causes on June 10, 2009.