The Fabulous Dorseys

Circa 1913 in Shenandoah, Thomas Dorsey Sr. moonlights as a music teacher and pushes his sons Jimmy (9) and Tommy (7) to learn saxophone and trombone to avoid coal mining. The children resist at first, chafing under strict discipline while their mother worries about the father's grip. Janie Howard, their childhood friend, often watches and stirs curiosity.

Thomas Sr loses his coal mining job and pitches a band to Gorman's Hall owner. He negotiates with a gamble: if the band fails to impress, they won't be paid; if they succeed, they get the gig. The plan seeds the Dorsey band's first public performance setting.

At Gorman's Hall, the band plays the Turkey Trot and then improvises a swing-influenced waltz. The patrons respond with growing enthusiasm as Tommy's trombone and Jimmy's sax merge, convincing the owner to hire them. This marks the first real professional step for the brothers.

In the early 1920s the brothers tour with their own band, the Wild Canaries, with Jane as singer. They struggle financially with intermittent one-night engagements while chasing better opportunities. A key change occurs when their piano player leaves and replacement arrives from the local theater.

Their Jefferson City engagement is canceled with no further bookings, but they receive an offer to join Paul Whiteman's orchestra—an opportunity that could elevate their fame. The brothers debate whether to accept, with the possibility of a major shift in their careers.

During New York's early radio days, the Dorseys perform a test broadcast with a live orchestra to test reception over 50-60 miles. They play Runnin' Wild too loudly, and Tommy's solo triggers a clash with Jimmy, prompting two more bandmates to quit. The incident fuels suspicion that crucial information was kept secret.

Tommy and Jimmy briefly join Paul Whiteman before reuniting with Robert Burton and Jane to form the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. The group tours and builds a following even while tensions about leadership and jazz direction simmer.

Jane is now engaged to Robert Burton, while the band contends with differing visions: Tommy wants livelier rhythm and Jimmy fears it's too fast. They clash repeatedly over style and leadership, threatening the unity of the orchestra. The personal bonds intensify the professional rivalry.

Despite the duo's conflict, the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra stays successful, and Jane remains a linchpin between them. Tommy eventually walks out, forming his own orchestra and scoring a hit with Moonlight in Vermont, while Jimmy preserves the Dorsey name and achieves top radio and disc sales.

Even as professional success mounts, the family remains fractured: their mother mourns the rift, and the brothers won't reconcile unless both are present. Jane devises a plan to bridge the gap by seeking reconciliation.

Jane secretly gives Paul Whiteman a copy of Robert Burton’s unpublished American Concerto. Whiteman convinces both brothers—independently—to perform the new concerto at a charity benefit, setting the stage for a dramatic double reunion.

News arrives that their father is seriously ill, prompting both Jimmy and Tommy to hurry home. They arrive in time to say goodbye, and the brothers reconcile for their mother’s sake and their father’s last wish.

Jimmy and Tommy honor their father by performing together at the Whiteman charity concert, surprising friends and rivals alike. Robert Burton is astonished to see Jane in the audience, and he reconciles with her as the concert closes. The End flashes as the two brothers perform a duet on clarinet and sax.