Tracing the Footsteps of Swing Legends: & , 1939-1941 Tyler Anderson  Music & Theatre Arts  University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Jo Stafford Tommy Dorsey Born November 12, 1917, Project Overview Born November 19, 1905, This project researched the itinerant touring schedule of the Tommy Dorsey Stafford first rose to notoriety Dorsey was one of the most from 1939-1941, the years Stafford toured with the group. This during the Swing era after three iconic band leaders of the swing information will inform Dr. Ryan Jones in his ongoing monograph project years on the road with Tommy era. Known as “The Sentimental about Jo Stafford herself, specifically concerning this first high-profile stage Dorsey (1939–1941)—during Gentleman of Swing” because of her career in which she sang as a member of the Pied Pipers vocal which swing bands regularly of his highly lyrical and smooth group within Dorsey’s band. The goal of this project is the creation of a crisscrossed the nation, moving trombone playing, Dorsey led a detailed timeline that documents the whereabouts of Stafford vis-à-vis from venue-to-venue in band that was wildly successful Dorsey—where, when, what, and with whom they performed—throughout automobile caravans to feed the swing dance craze. from the 1930s into the . His band would not this formative three-year period in Stafford’s development. Among her many career achievements, Stafford was only kick start the career of Stafford, but also singing the first female vocalist to sell 25 million albums. legend .

April 1939 February 2, 1940 May 21, 1940 April 10, 1941 November 11,1942 Dorsey band opens at Beginning of three week Band begins Band begins to tour the Midwest “Ship Ahoy,” featuring the Paramount Theater in stay at the Lyric Theater, fourteen week and East Coast throughout the Dorsey Band, begins NYC. Indianapolis sojourn at the Astor Spring and Summer. principal shooting in Roof, NYC. Hollywood. 1939 1940 1941 1942

December 1938 Fall 1939 February 20, 1940 October 31, 1940 August 24, 1941 Jo Stafford and the Dorsey and his band at Band concludes a Dorsey opens at the Band plays at Lake Pied Pipers join the the Palmer House, Midwest tour at Frank Palladium Ballroom in Compounce in Bristol, Tommy Dorsey band. Dailey’s Meadowbrook in Hollywood Connecticut.

Research funded by Faculty/Student Research Collaboration (ORSP) New Jersey. Printing of this poster was funded by Differential Tuition. "We traveled a lot by tour bus and well, a band bus is arranged like a bandstand. If you have strings, the strings are in front, and they're fairly calm people who behave themselves. Next are the saxophones, who get a little rowdy, but not too much. Next come the trombones, who get pretty raunchy, and then the trumpet players who are out of control. All the way in back was the rhythm section. They were the worst; they were real evil. That's where Frank sat. So did I." - Jo Stafford