Dottie Dodgion

Dottie Dodgion (born Dorothy Rosalie Giaimo; September 23, 1929 – September 17, 2021) was an American jazz drummer and singer.

Life and career Dodgion was born on September 23, 1929, in Brea, California. An early marriage to Robert Bennett was annulled. After marrying Monty Budwig in 1952, she began playing drums, but Budwig tried to dissuade her from the instrument; she received encouragement to play from Jerry Dodgion and bassist Eugene Wright, and subsequently divorced Budwig in 1954 to marry Dodgion. Her new husband advised her to choose between singing and drums; she decided to concentrate on the latter.

She worked with Carl Fontana in Las Vegas toward the end of the decade and then relocated in 1961 to New York City. There she played in Benny Goodman's ensemble for ten days (her husband was also working with Goodman), but was fired for gaining more applause than her boss, Dodgion wrote in her autobiography. She was soon hired by Tony Bennett who was performing at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

Discography As leader Dottie Dodgion Sings (Arbors Jazz, 1993)

As accompanist With Ruby Braff The Music Of Ruby Braff And His International Jazz Quartet (Chiaroscuro, 1972) With Marian McPartland Now's The Time (Halcyon, 1977)