Iconic Swing Era bandleader Tommy Dorsey’s New Jersey mansion just hit the market at $3.595 million. The 8,796-square-foot mansion, located in Bernardsville Boro, New Jersey, sits on 6.4 acres of secluded land, home to rolling green lawn and towering trees.
During the heyday of the Swing Era, Tommy Dorsey led more than one of the most popular big bands of the time. Aside from his charisma as a bandleader, he was independently a highly influential and respected trombonist, well known for his incredible versatility, charisma, and knack for spotting other talented musicians. He had an incredibly varied career beginning in just his teenage years in the 1920s, playing music ranging from hot swing to smooth dance.
Later, he would link up to perform and record with Frank Sinatra. As a trombonist, Tommy Dorsey was known for seamless phrases and purity of tone and would perform in big bands and on television until his death in 1956.
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Originally built in 1907, his iconic New Jersey home is saturated in style just as the man himself. It’s a classic Georgian-style estate, measuring 8,796 square feet, and still houses the legendary Dorsey “Blue Room” that to this day, is home to Dorsey’s billiard table and grand piano. The mansion figures in with six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and seven luxurious fireplaces.
Other notable features are several formal rooms, updated baths, and an updated kitchen with a stunning wall of French doors. The property spans 6.4 acres with refreshing lawn and trees and also houses a detached carriage house with two separate apartments and parking for five cars.
The earthy exterior of the mansion is complemented beautifully by the surrounding trees and landscape, with outdoor lighting doing even more to enhance the warm aesthetic. The interior is just as cozy, with rich wood flooring, chandeliers, and welcoming colors throughout. An indoor balcony follows the staircase up to the upper floors, boasting a tall ceiling for wonderful depth to space. A back patio opens up to an expansive view, adorned by a fountain and complementing landscaping.
The Tall Oaks estate has been known to lavishly entertain over the decades, and its character reflects just that. The history and ambiance of the mansion do not go unnoticed, and all updates and restorations have been done in the original style and detailing, down to the exact original specifications.
This classic getaway was once home to the Swing Era’s iconic Tommy Dorsey, who headed up numerous big bands during the height of the Swing Era and was well-known and respected as an independent musician, maintaining his success even as rock ‘n’ roll began to edge into Swing’s popularity.
His iconic New Jersey mansion with sweeping lawns, inviting formal rooms with several fireplaces, and his famous billiards table and grand piano is currently on the market. The estate, situated on 6.4 wooded acres, is listed at $3.595 million.
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