Jane Dorsey, 79; Widow of Big-Band Leader Tommy Dorsey
Jane New Dorsey, 79, widow of renowned big-band leader Tommy Dorsey, died of natural causes Sunday in Bay Harbor, Fla., according to publicist Peter Levinson.
She had owned and maintained the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with the original music library since her husband died Nov. 26, 1956. The orchestra has been led for 24 years by Buddy Morrow.
Born in Dublin, Ga., Jane New studied drama in New York City after graduating from high school. She later found work as a dancer in a Ziegfeld Follies revival, followed by work in the chorus line at the Copacabana in New York.
She married Dorsey in Atlanta on March 27, 1948. It was his third marriage. They had two children, who survive her.
His death came just two days before he was to appear in court to answer her divorce suit.
Her son, Stephen Dorsey, was quoted in the Miami Herald this week as saying that after his father’s death, his mother’s life changed remarkably.
“There was one main love in her life, and that was my father,” he said. “She never completely got over his death.”
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
