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103-565: Glenn Miller 's Orchestra recorded a swing version of the march arranged by Jerry Gray in 1942 which was released as a 78 single on Victor Records . Morton Gould later composed his own unusual and often dissonant "American Patrol for 3 Bands." The "patrol" format, also used in Beethoven's Turkish March , was popular in the second half of the 19th century, and other compositions bear titles such as "Turkish Patrol," "Ethiopian Patrol," "Owl's Patrol," "Welsh Patrol" and "Arab Patrol." The format

206-552: A 38-year-old, he was too old to be drafted. First, he tried to join the United States Navy , but officials told him they "could not use his services" at that time. Miller then wrote to Army Brigadier General Charles Young. He successfully persuaded the United States Army to accept him, so he could, "be placed in charge of a modernized Army band." He reported for duty on October 7, 1942. He soon transferred to

309-549: A 78 rpm record under the name "Benny Goodman's Boys". In 1928, when the band arrived in New York City, he sent for and married his college sweetheart, Helen Burger. He was a member of Red Nichols ' orchestra (Red Nichols and his Five Pennies) in 1930, and because of Nichols, he played in the pit bands of two Broadway shows, Strike Up the Band and Girl Crazy . That band included Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa . During

412-480: A buzz bomb landed in front of their old quarters, destroyed the building, and killed more than 100 people, which included WACs among the seventy-five American personnel lost. None were Miller band members. Miller told Lieutenant Don Haynes, "As long as [the Miller Luck] stays with us, we have nothing to worry about." On July 9, 1944, Miller's 51-piece orchestra and production personnel started broadcasting

515-670: A career in music. He failed Harmony. In New York City, he studied the Schillinger system with Joseph Schillinger , under whose tutelage he composed "Miller's Tune". Miller arranged that tune for big band and renamed it. It became his signature theme, "Moonlight Serenade". In 1926, Miller toured with several groups, landing a good spot in Ben Pollack 's group in Los Angeles. He also played for Victor Young , which allowed him to be mentored by other professional musicians. In

618-748: A flight over the English Channel . In keeping with standard operating procedure for the US military services, Miller was officially declared dead a year and a day later. An Army investigation led to an official finding of death (FOD) for Miller, Norman Baessell, and John Morgan, all of whom died on the same flight. All three officers are listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Cambridge, England. Since his body

721-527: A half-hour radio show on CBS that featured King of Jazz Paul Whiteman. Whiteman decided to retire and recommended Glenn as a replacement. On December 27, 1939, Miller took over the program as Chesterfield Moonlight Serenade . During the first 13 weeks, The Andrews Sisters were featured as Chesterfield were worried over whether Miller could sustain his popularity. Their fear subsided, and the program, reformatted for 15 minutes, aired Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at 10:15 pm. Miller and his band held

824-612: A marching band for base activities and a jazz band led by T/Sgt. Ray McKinley, the popular civilian bandleader and drummer. Initially designated the 418th AAF Band, Miller's unit was redesignated the Second AAF Radio Production Unit on December 6, 1943. At that time, base band duties transferred to the 708th AAF Band, a unit of standby musicians separate from the radio orchestra. Miller's marching band became famous by using jeeps with drums and string bass aboard for public performances. Miller also famously got into

927-519: A musical argument with Army purists by performing marching arrangements of jazz, including "The Saint Louis Blues" and "Blues in the Night", as opposed to traditional Sousa military marches. The AAF endorsed Miller's modern approach. On May 24, 1944, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a cable to Washington requesting transfer of the Miller AAF unit for the purposes of radio broadcasting and morale. With

1030-722: A one-month delay to settle his business affairs. Miller made his final commercial broadcast for Chesterfield Cigarettes on September 24, 1942. At the end of the program, he introduced competitor Harry James as his successor on the series, a gesture that a grateful James never forgot. On September 26, Miller made his final civilian broadcast on the Blue Network Coca Cola Victory parade of Spotlight Bands. Glenn Miller and his Orchestra gave their final performance at Central Theater in Passaic, New Jersey on September 27, 1942. On October 7, 1942, Miller reported to

1133-731: A part as the group's bassist. Though contracted to do a third movie for Fox, Blind Date , Miller entered the US Army and this film was never made. In 2004, Miller orchestra bassist Trigger Alpert explained the band's success: "Miller had America's music pulse... He knew what would please the listeners." Although Miller was popular, many jazz critics had misgivings. They believed that the band's endless rehearsals—and, according to critic Amy Lee in Metronome magazine, "letter-perfect playing"—removed feeling from their performances. They also felt that Miller's brand of swing shifted popular music from

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1236-412: A pleasure to be here tonight. And speaking of RCA Victor, we're mighty proud of that "Chattanooga Choo Choo", and the man that made the record, Glenn Miller. You see it's been a long time – 15 years in fact – since any record has sold a million copies. And "Chattanooga Choo Choo" certainly put on steam and breezed right through that million mark by over 200,000 pressings. And we decided that Glenn should get

1339-412: A popular band and never has a movie featuring such an organization presented its music so tastefully... Pictorially, Trigger Alpert and Maurice Purtill take the honors. Trigger hops around like mad and Maurice looks like the movies’ idea of a swing drummer, all right. They stay within the bounds of good taste, however ... the story is believable, and happily centers around the band, so that the whole thing

1442-471: A popular formula from which he allowed little departure. A disproportionate ratio of nostalgia to substance keeps his music alive." Jazz critics Gunther Schuller (1991) and Gary Giddins (2004) have defended Miller from criticism. In an article written for The New Yorker magazine in 2004, Giddins said these critics erred in denigrating Miller's music, and that the popular opinion of the time should hold greater sway. "Miller exuded little warmth on or off

1545-490: A saxophonist named Wilbur Schwartz . Miller hired Schwartz but had him play lead clarinet instead of the saxophone. According to Simon, "Willie's tone and way of playing provided a fullness and richness so distinctive that none of the later Miller imitators could ever accurately reproduce the Miller sound." With this new sound combination, Miller found a way to differentiate his band's style from that of many bands that existed in

1648-621: A series of musical programs over the AEFP under BBC technical supervision. The programs included: "The American Band of the AEF" (full orchestra), "Swing Shift" (T/Sgt. Ray McKinley dance orchestra), "Uptown Hall" (Sgt. Mel Powell jazz quartet), "Strings with Wings" (Sgt. George Ockner, concertmaster and the string section), "Song by Sgt. Johnny Desmond" (vocalist with orchestra directed by M/Sgt. Norman Leyden) and "Piano Parade" (piano solos by Pvt. Jack Rusin and Sgt. Mel Powell). The orchestra also appeared for

1751-416: A string section as his military unit did, but it did have a slap bass in the rhythm section . It was also a touring band that played multiple radio broadcasts nearly every day. Their best-selling records include Miller's theme song – " Moonlight Serenade " – and the first gold record ever made, " Chattanooga Choo Choo ". The following tunes are also on that best-seller list: " In

1854-534: A trombone and a trumpet, giving the band a fuller sound. On April 4, 1939, Miller and his orchestra recorded " Moonlight Serenade ". Considered one of the top songs of the swing era, and Miller's best composition, it soon became the theme song to start and end all of his radio performances. Miller's most popular track " In the Mood " was recorded August 1, 1939. Famous for its opening and bass riffs as well as its "dueling" saxophone solos between Tex Beneke and Al Klink ,

1957-475: A trophy. The best one we could think of is a gold record of "Chattanooga". And now Glenn, it's yours – with the best wishes of RCA Victor Bluebird Records. Glenn Miller: Thank you, Wally, that’s really a wonderful present. Radio announcer, Paul Douglas: I think everyone listening in on the radio should know Glenn, it’s actually a recording of "Chattanooga Choo Choo" but it’s in gold. Solid gold, and it’s really fine. Glenn Miller: That’s right, Paul, and now for

2060-441: A variety of settings. Later, Miller largely improved his arranging and writing skills by studying under music theorist Joseph Schillinger . In February 1937, Miller started an orchestra that briefly made records for Decca . With this group, Miller used an arrangement he wrote for British bandleader Ray Noble 's American band in an attempt to form a clarinet-reed sound. This style developed over time, and eventually became known as

2163-414: Is a triumph for Glenn Miller and the band. In October, ASCAP and the radio networks agreed on a new rate, and the band could finally play " Chattanooga Choo Choo " and their other songs on radio. On February 10, 1942, the manager of record sales for RCA Victor and Bluebird records, W. Wallace Early presented the first gold record ever made to Glenn Miller for “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” Wallace Early: It's

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2266-937: Is engraved as Major Alton Glenn Miller, US Army (Air Corps) on his Government-issued (G.I.) memorial headstone in Memorial Section H at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His last military unit has a memorial tree in section 13 on Wilson Drive. The American Holly was dedicated on December 15, 1994, the 50th anniversary of Miller's death, for the veterans of the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra. He attended grade school in North Platte in western Nebraska. In 1915, his family moved to Grant City, Missouri . Around this time, he had made enough money from milking cows to buy his first trombone and played in

2369-438: Is not unlikely." Louis Armstrong thought enough of Miller to carry around his recordings, transferred to seven-inch tape reels when he went on tour. "[Armstrong] liked musicians who prized melody, and his selections ranged from Glenn Miller to Jelly Roll Morton to Tchaikovsky ." Jazz pianist George Shearing 's quintet of the 1950s and 1960s was influenced by Miller: "with Shearing's locked hands style piano (influenced by

2472-619: The Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York. According to author Gunther Schuller , the Glen Island performance attracted "a record-breaking opening-night crowd of 1800..." The band's popularity grew. In 1939, Time magazine noted: "Of the 12 to 24 discs in each of today's 300,000 U.S. jukeboxes, from two to six are usually Glenn Miller's." In 1940, the band's version of " Tuxedo Junction " sold 115,000 copies in

2575-533: The Glenn Miller sound . Frustrated with his agency over playing inconsistent bookings and lacking broad radio exposure, Miller gave the band notice in December 1937. Less than three months later, he was looking for members and forming a new band. Miller began a partnership with Eli Oberstein , which led directly to a contract with Victor subsidiary Bluebird Records . Gaining notoriety at such engagements as

2678-574: The List of Billboard number-one singles of 1942 . In four years, Miller scored 16 number one records and 69 top 10 hits, more than Elvis Presley (40) and the Beatles (35) in their careers. His musical legacy includes multiple recordings in the Grammy Hall of Fame . His work has been performed by swing bands, jazz bands, and big bands worldwide for over 75 years. Miller is considered to be

2781-507: The Second World War . The AFM strike prevented Miller from making any new recordings in the last two months of his band's existence, and they formally disbanded at the end of September 1942. Miller's short-term chart successes have seldom been duplicated and his group's unprecedented dominance of early Your Hit Parade and Billboard singles charts resulted in 16 number-one singles and 69 Top Ten hits. By March 1938, Glenn

2884-772: The Seventh Service Command at Omaha as a captain in the Army Specialist Corps . Following a one-month ASC training course at Fort Meade, Maryland, he transferred to the Army Air Forces (AAF) on November 25, 1942, by order of General Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold . Miller was initially assigned to the AAF Southeast Flying Training Command at Maxwell Field, Alabama for orientation as assistant special service officer, traveling to different AAF training bases in

2987-673: The United States Army Air Forces where he formed what would become the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra, the precursor of the US Air Force Airmen of Note . Glenn Miller and his Orchestra broadcast their final Chesterfield radio spot on CBS radio on September 24, 1942. During the program, Miller announced that from then on, the Chesterfield radio broadcast would be done by Harry James . Harry James played "Jukebox Saturday Night" with

3090-626: The AAFTTC. Miller's recommendation for an AAFTTC bands program was approved. Detached to the AAF Training Center at Atlantic City, New Jersey, Miller screened personnel for assignment to various AAF base bands across the nation and recruited many for an elite unit that he would direct himself. The AAF had established its First Radio Production Unit and Orchestra to broadcast from Hollywood, commanded by Maj. Eddie Dunstedter with musical director M/Sgt. Felix Slatkin. Miller would form and direct

3193-738: The Army Bureau of Public Relations and Army Air Forces. On August 12, 1942, Miller sent a three-page letter to General Charles Young of the Army Service Forces, outlining his interest in "streamlining modern military music" and to express his "sincere desire to do a real job for the Army that is not actuated by any personal draft problem." General Young forwarded Miller's letter to Gen. Brehon Somervell, commander of Army Service Forces who approved Miller's application. The Army notified Miller of his commission on September 8, 1942. He received

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3296-723: The Blitz of 1940–41. In Bedford, the Miller unit would use facilities developed for Sir Adrian Boult and the BBC Symphony. Prior to the band's arrival, Miller met with SHAEF and BBC officials to coordinate broadcasting plans, including the BBC Director of the new Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme (AEFP), Maurice Gorham, SHAEF Director of Broadcasting, American Col. Edward Kirby, and deputy director of SHAEF Broadcasting, British Lt. Col. David Niven (the famous actor). They became Miller's chain of command. His distinguished orchestra

3399-571: The Glenn Miller Archives confirms, "Miller's use of his first name, Alton, was necessary for legal and military purposes, which is logically why it shows up in formal documents such as his military documents, driver’s licenses, tax returns, etc." He is listed as Alton G. Miller in the Army Air Forces section of the Tablets of the Missing in Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Cambridge, England. His name

3502-685: The Glenn Miller Orchestra in their two films, Sun Valley Serenade and Orchestra Wives , with Lynn Bari lip-synching. Miller and his band appeared in two Twentieth Century Fox films. In 1941's Sun Valley Serenade they were major members of the cast, which also featured comedian Milton Berle , and Dorothy Dandridge with the Nicholas Brothers in the show-stopping song-and-dance number, "Chattanooga Choo Choo". The Miller band returned to Hollywood to film 1942's Orchestra Wives , featuring Jackie Gleason playing

3605-422: The Miller band was heard around the country. By late August, the end of their summer season, they had nationwide attention. George T. Simon , music writer and one-time drummer for Miller, spoke of the Glen Island broadcasts: Glen Island was the prestige place for people who listened to bands on radio. The band's first semi hit, " Little Brown Jug ", came out just when it opened at Glen Island. That helped. And

3708-655: The Miller unit resumed the "I Sustain The Wings" series when they returned from the European Theater in August 1945. The Miller unit also recorded V-Discs at RCA Victor studios, and recorded broadcasts for the Office of War Information and Armed Forces Radio Service, including “Music from America” and “Uncle Sam Presents." In addition to the full concert orchestra, Miller's AAF Training Command organization included

3811-497: The Modernaires' vocal range added a new dimension to Miller's recordings. In late March, Miller and his orchestra began work on their first motion picture, Sun Valley Serenade . Previously, swing films such as Hollywood Hotel with Benny Goodman's orchestra had only featured bands for song performances; Miller reportedly insisted, perhaps even to the extent of contract clauses, that the plot of Sun Valley revolve around

3914-439: The Mood ", " Pennsylvania 6-5000 " (printed as "Pennsylvania Six-Five Thousand" on record labels), " A String of Pearls ", " Moonlight Cocktail ", " At Last ", " (I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo ", " American Patrol ", " Tuxedo Junction ", " Elmer's Tune ", " Little Brown Jug ", and " Anvil Chorus ". Including "Chattanooga Choo Choo", five songs played by Miller and His Orchestra were number one hits for most of 1942 and can be found on

4017-933: The Mutual Music Society in New York City. The song was released as a Victor 78 single, 27873A, backed with "Soldier, Let Me Read Your Letter". The recording was reissued as RCA Victor 20-1564-A backed with " Song of the Volga Boatmen " as Side 1 on the four disc 78 album, P-148, Glenn Miller . The record reached no. 15 on Billboard in 1942. The musicians on the Glenn Miller studio recording were: Saxes: Tex Beneke, Wilbur Schwartz, Ernie Caceres, Al Klink, Lloyd "Skip" Martin; Trumpets: John Best, R. D. McMickle, Billy May, Steve Lipkins; Trombones: Glenn Miller, Jimmy Priddy, Paul Tanner, Frank D'Annolfo; Piano: Chummy MacGregor; String Bass: Edward "Doc" Goldberg; Guitar: Bobby Hackett; Drums: Moe Purtill. In 1954

4120-723: The Nicholas Brothers , who would appear with Miller again in two movies for Twentieth Century Fox in 1941 and 1942. In 1937, Miller compiled several arrangements and formed his first band. After failing to distinguish itself from the many bands of the time, it broke up after its last show at the Ritz Ballroom in Bridgeport, Connecticut on January 2, 1938. Benny Goodman said in 1976: In late 1937, before his band became popular, we were both playing in Dallas. Glenn

4223-627: The Office of War Information's Voice of America European outlet. The American Broadcasting Station in Europe (ABSIE) broadcast daily to occupied Europe and Germany. One of its German language programs was "Music for the Wehrmacht", in which Miller made announcements in phonetic German scripts with a German-speaking announcer named "Ilse", who was actually ABSIE announcer Gloria Wagner. Sgt. Johnny Desmond sang vocals in German on this series. In England,

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4326-470: The Paradise Restaurant and Frank Dailey–owned Meadowbrook and their corresponding nationwide broadcasts, Miller struck enormous popularity playing the Glen Island Casino in the summer of 1939. From late 1939 to mid-1942, Miller was the number-one band in the country, with few true rivals. Only Harry James ' band began to equal Miller's in popularity as he wound down his career in the wake of

4429-524: The Second AAF Radio Production Unit and Orchestra, broadcasting and recording from New York. Miller's unit was authorized on March 20, 1943, and billeted at the AAF Training School at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. Its personnel were a talented mix of jazz musicians from major big bands and musicians from leading symphony orchestras. Miller would successfully attempt to fuse jazz, popular music and light classics, including strings, which

4532-527: The US Navy but was turned down. At the time, the Navy was dealing with a scandal concerning celebrity commissions in exchange for draft avoidance. This had nothing to do with Miller, but it prevented the Navy from acting on his application. Miller then applied to the US Army with whom he had privately explored the possibility of enlisting. During a March 1942 visit to Washington, Miller had met with officials of

4635-757: The Universal-International Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Gershenson, recorded a version of American Patrol ( Decca Records , 9–29017), inserted in the LP The Glenn Miller Story of the same year ( Decca Records , A-952). The song was also recorded for the 1983 CD album, "In the Digital Mood", by the Glenn Miller Orchestra 's touring ghost band . Glenn Miller Alton Glen " Glenn " Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944)

4738-593: The arrangement of lead clarinet over four saxophones that became a characteristic of his big band. Members of the Noble band included Claude Thornhill , Bud Freeman , and Charlie Spivak . Miller made his first movie appearance in The Big Broadcast of 1936 as a member of the Ray Noble Orchestra performing "Why Stars Come Out at Night". The film included performances by Dorothy Dandridge and

4841-421: The arrangement, and in here we're gonna put a trumpet solo. And in this spot and this spot we're gonna cut way down here and we're gonna have the two saxophones have a little battle in there," and decided to make cuts. And then at the end, Alice [Winkler, the interviewer], if you know the arrangement, at the end there are all those false endings that go on, and it kept getting softer and softer until Glenn would give

4944-660: The band chant track " Pennsylvania 6-5000 ", referencing the phone number for the Hotel Pennsylvania , which housed the Café Rouge, a common engagement and broadcasting spot for the band, was released and it too became an instant swing standard. On January 1, 1941, following tensions regarding licensing fees, radio networks banned ASCAP songs from live performance . Miller had to work to reform his radio programs for BMI published tunes , temporarily switching his theme to "Slumber Song". In early 1941, Marion Hutton left

5047-700: The band followed aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth , which was serving as a troopship. Upon arrival in London, the unit was initially billeted at Sloane Court, Chelsea. This was a temporary assignment because Miller had previously arranged for permanent quarters in Bedford. Because of the V-1 flying bomb assault that was underway, SHAEF determined it better to house the band where the BBC had moved operations during

5150-462: The band for a four-week stay in March and April, before Glen Island. The band was well-received and within days Dailey picked up a three-week extension offer. During this time, Bluebird recording dates became more common, and Glenn added drummer Maurice Purtill and trumpeter Dale "Mickey" McMickle to stabilize personnel. Opening at Glen Island on May 17, 1939, the casino's radio broadcast antenna ensured

5253-455: The band kept an extensive schedule of personal appearances at primarily American air bases. Visiting American celebrities Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore appeared on their radio programs. Shore joined Miller for a recording session at Abbey Road Studios, where the orchestra recorded their ABSIE German language programs. Military service personnel of all ranks enjoyed the band. Their concert at Eighth Air Force Headquarters at Wycombe Abbey, England,

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5356-723: The band made their first recordings, " My Reverie ", " King Porter Stomp " and "By the Waters of Minnetonka", in two parts. Keeping up radio dates, Miller was only booked for one more session the rest of the year. In March 1939, the Glenn Miller Orchestra was given its big break, when they were chosen to play the summer season at the prestigious Glen Island Casino located on the north shore of Long Island Sound in New Rochelle, New York . Frank Dailey, manager of The Meadowbrook Ballroom in Cedar Grove, New Jersey , immediately booked

5459-469: The band rather than only feature them. Harry Warren and Mack Gordon were commissioned to write songs for the film. The Miller band filmed and recorded an extended song-and-dance number featuring the Nicholas Brothers for what was soon to be its biggest selling record, surprise hit " Chattanooga Choo Choo ". Despite criticism of the plot, Sun Valley Serenade was received with general positivity from critics, and Miller earned praise for his band's role in

5562-658: The band that night. They played their last concert on September 27, 1942, in Passaic, New Jersey. Radio played a pivotal role in the success of Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. Featured heavily on the format during their existence, many of their earlier programs from such venues as the Paradise Restaurant, Glen Island and the Meadowbrook Ballroom used remote connections to the National Broadcasting Company , on both NBC–Red and NBC–Blue . The makers of Chesterfield Cigarettes hosted

5665-616: The band to go on maternity leave. In the meantime, Miller needed an additional female vocalist, and he offered Dorothy Claire , then with Bobby Byrne 's band, twice her salary. Claire went to work for Miller, despite her signature on a three-year contract with Byrne in November 1940, and Miller ignored Byrne's wishes for compensation. Byrne then launched a $ 25,000 lawsuit against the Miller orchestra's business dealings. Miller met with Byrne in Columbus, Ohio sometime in early March and settled

5768-850: The bandstand, but once the band struck up its theme, audiences were done for: throats clutched, eyes softened. Can any other record match 'Moonlight Serenade' for its ability to induce a Pavlovian slaver in so many for so long?" Schuller notes, "[The Miller sound] was nevertheless very special and able to penetrate our collective awareness that few other sounds have..." He compares it to "Japanese Gagaku [and] Hindu music" in its purity. Schuller and Giddins do not take completely uncritical approaches to Miller. Schuller says that Ray Eberle's "lumpy, sexless vocalizing dragged down many an otherwise passable performance." But Schuller notes, "How much further [Miller's] musical and financial ambitions might have carried him must forever remain conjectural. That it would have been significant, whatever form(s) it might have taken,

5871-636: The beginning, he was the main trombone soloist of the band, but when Jack Teagarden joined Pollack's band in 1928, Miller found that his solos were cut drastically. He realized that his future was in arranging and composing. He had a songbook published in Chicago in 1928 entitled 125 Jazz Breaks for Trombone by the Melrose Brothers. During his time with Pollack, he wrote several arrangements. He wrote his first composition, " Room 1411 ", with Benny Goodman , and Brunswick Records released it as

5974-480: The boys in the band, thanks a million, two hundred thousand. In early 1942, the band was upgraded from Bluebird to full-price Victor Records. Following very closely in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Miller band started work on their second film, Orchestra Wives in March. Once again, Gordon and Warren were recalled to compose the songs. The previous year, both had composed " At Last " but couldn't place it into Sun Valley Serenade vocally, although it appears in

6077-441: The clarinet lead in Glenn's arrangements was such a romantic sound! It caught the public fancy during this exposure. Miller began ending his broadcasts from Glen Island with his "Something Old, Something New" medleys. But the most important thing for Glenn's success was that he recorded " In the Mood " while he was at the casino. That made him the Michael Jackson of his day. Capitalizing on newfound popularity, Miller decided to add

6180-422: The cowbell, and we knew the next time was loud. And this was all Glenn's doing. On February 5, 1940, Miller recorded " Tuxedo Junction ", which hit number one and reportedly sold 115,000 copies within the first week of release, and placed 7th overall for the National Hit Parade that year. Bob Eberly said that it "sold 90,000 copies in the first week, at a time when 25,000 was considered a great seller". In April,

6283-435: The dispute – Claire went back to working with Byrne's band. Miller soon hired The Modernaires from Paul Whiteman , who was disbanding his orchestra. Still in need of a female vocalist, the wife of Modernaire Hal Dickinson, Paula Kelly , who had sung previously with Al Donahue , stepped up to fill in the role. The signing of the Modernaires significantly benefitted the Miller organization. Hip and popular with young listeners,

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6386-412: The drummer a cue and he would hit the cowbell and then we would know that the next time we were to come on very loud. And the dancers just loved it. He tried it out on the dances at the Glen Island Casino, and they loved it. They couldn't figure out how we knew when to come in loud. But, you know, I told them, "Well, we have a sixth sense of that sort of thing." But actually, what happened is the drummer hit

6489-478: The early to mid-1930s, Miller worked as a trombonist, arranger, and composer for the Dorsey Brothers , first, when they were a Brunswick studio group and later, when they formed an ill-fated orchestra. Miller composed the songs " Annie's Cousin Fanny ", " Dese Dem Dose ", " Harlem Chapel Chimes ", and " Tomorrow's Another Day " for the Dorsey Brothers Band in 1934 and 1935. In 1935, he assembled an American orchestra for British bandleader Ray Noble , developing

6592-407: The entire group came across. Glenn Miller and His Orchestra Glenn Miller and His Orchestra was an American swing dance band that was formed by Glenn Miller in 1938. Arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody , and three other saxophones playing harmony , the band became the most popular and commercially successful dance orchestra of the swing era and one of

6695-515: The faith for financiers Mike Nidorf and Cy Shribman. Miller used the 'clarinet-lead' sound as the foundation for his new band, and this caught the attention of students at Northeastern campuses. They opened on April 16, 1938, at Raymor Ballroom in Boston . When the band reached New York , they were billed below Freddie Fisher and His Schnickelfritzers , a dance band comedy routine. From Vincent Lopez 's group came Marion Hutton , who added enthusiasm and energy in her performances. On September 7, 1938,

6798-457: The father of the modern US military bands. In 1942, he volunteered to join the US military to entertain troops during World War II and ended up in the US Army Air Forces . Their workload was just as heavy as the civilian band's had been. With a full string section added to a big band, the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra was the forerunner of many US military big bands. Miller went missing in action (MIA) on December 15, 1944, on

6901-407: The film in three different instrumental versions. The song was arranged by Jerry Gray in a vocal version, and it was displayed prominently in Orchestra Wives . It became a standard when recorded by Glenn Miller orchestra alumnus Ray Anthony in 1951 in a version that reached no. 2 on the Billboard pop singles chart. Etta James released a popular version in 1961 that added to the iconic status of

7004-407: The film, with Barry Ulanov writing for Metronome : Miller comes across as a convincing band leader, and, even more important, a convincing human being in this film. He’s on mostly for music, but most of the film is music and the dozen or so reels are a better showcase for the Glenn Miller band than they are for the Sonja Henie torso and limbs, with and without skates. Never has a movie made more of

7107-431: The first gold record for " Chattanooga Choo Choo ". The Miller orchestra performed "Chattanooga Choo Choo" with his singers Gordon "Tex" Beneke , Paula Kelly and the Modernaires . Other singers with this orchestra included Marion Hutton , Skip Nelson, Ray Eberle and (to a smaller extent) Kay Starr , Ernie Caceres , Dorothy Claire and Jack Lathrop. Pat Friday dubbed for Lynn Bari by singing her part in

7210-470: The first week. Miller's success in 1939 culminated with an appearance at Carnegie Hall on October 6, with Paul Whiteman , Benny Goodman, and Fred Waring also on the schedule. From December 1939 to September 1942, Miller's band performed three times a week during a quarter-hour broadcast for Chesterfield cigarettes on CBS radio —for the first 13 weeks with the Andrews Sisters and then on its own. On February 10, 1942, RCA Victor presented Miller with

7313-515: The greatest singles charting acts of the 20th century. As of 2024, Ray Anthony is the last surviving member of the orchestra. Miller began professionally recording in New York City as a sideman in the hot jazz era of the late 1920s. With the arrival of virtuoso trombonists Jack Teagarden and Tommy Dorsey , Miller focused more on developing his arrangement skills. Writing for contemporaries and future stars such as Artie Shaw , and Benny Goodman , Miller gained prowess as an arranger by working in

7416-503: The hot jazz of Benny Goodman and Count Basie to commercial novelty instrumentals and vocal numbers. After Miller died, the Miller estate maintained an unfriendly stance toward critics who derided the band during his lifetime. Miller was often criticized for being too commercial. His answer was, "I don't want a jazz band." Many modern jazz critics harbor similar antipathy. In 1997, on a website administered by JazzTimes magazine, Doug Ramsey considers him overrated. "Miller discovered

7519-534: The impending D-Day invasion of northwest Europe, the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) was establishing a combined allied radio broadcasting service. Eisenhower cited the Miller organization as the "only organization capable of performing the mission required." The Army Air Forces approved the deployment under the condition that the unit remain under AAF control. Miller and radio producer Sgt. Paul Dudley flew to London on June 19 and

7622-505: The last set of tracks, with " That Old Black Magic " hitting number one in May 1943, over eight months after his the orchestra disbanded. Miller began incorporating more patriotic themes into his radio shows and recordings after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor . At the top of his civilian musical career in 1942, Glenn Miller decided to join the troops he had been entertaining. As

7725-872: The late 1920s and early 1930s, Miller worked as a freelance trombonist in several bands. On a March 21, 1928, Victor Records session, he played alongside Tommy Dorsey , Benny Goodman, and Joe Venuti in the All-Star Orchestra directed by Nat Shilkret . He arranged and played trombone on several significant Dorsey brothers sessions for OKeh Records , including "The Spell of the Blues", "Let's Do It", and "My Kinda Love", all with Bing Crosby on vocals. On November 14, 1929, vocalist Red McKenzie hired Miller to play on two records: "Hello, Lola" and "If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight". Beside Miller were saxophonist Coleman Hawkins , clarinetist Pee Wee Russell , guitarist Eddie Condon , and drummer Gene Krupa. In

7828-419: The late 1930s. Miller talked about his style in the May 1939 issue of Metronome magazine. "You'll notice today some bands use the same trick on every introduction; others repeat the same musical phrase as a modulation into a vocal ... We're fortunate in that our style doesn't limit us to stereotyped intros, modulations, first choruses, endings, or even trick rhythms. The fifth sax, playing the clarinet most of

7931-490: The late 1940s and early 1950s use some Miller musicians. Trigger Alpert, a bassist from the civilian band, Zeke Zarchy for the Army Air Forces Orchestra and Willie Schwartz, the lead clarinetist from the civilian band back up Sinatra on many recordings. It was a surprise that clarinetist Buddy DeFranco took on the job of leading the Glenn Miller Orchestra in the late 1960s and early 1970s. De Franco

8034-409: The peak of his civilian career in 1942, Miller decided to join the armed forces, which meant forsaking an income of about $ 20,000 per week from his civilian band, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (equivalent to $ 330,000 per week in 2022). At 38, married and needing corrective eyeglasses, Miller was classified 3-A for the draft and unlikely to be called to service. He first applied for a commission in

8137-426: The program allows Miller to display all the top items in his library." According to Paul Albone , of the 121 singles by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra that made the charts, 69 were Top Ten hits, and 16 reached number-one. In just a 4-year career, Miller and His Orchestra's songs spent a cumulative total of 664 weeks, nearly thirteen years, on the charts, 79 of which were at the number-one position. Miller also has

8240-638: The region to learn the mission of the training command. There, he appeared on the nationwide NBC "Army Hour" broadcast, originated from WSFA, Montgomery. He also appeared over WAPI radio Birmingham, performing with the Rhythmaires, a 15-piece base band. Effective January 1, 1943, Miller was assigned to the headquarters of the AAF Technical Training Command (TTC) at Knollwood Field, Southern Pines, North Carolina. Reporting to Gen. Walter R. Weaver, Miller became director of bands for

8343-677: The slot until their disbandment in 1942. In 1940, the band broadcast from the first time from the Café Rouge at the Hotel Pennsylvania, soon to become a regular booking and a host of long-term engagements. By then, the Miller band had several NBC sustaining broadcasts in addition to three CBS programs, reaching American homes 6–7 days a week. In August, Miller's orchestra had an hour-long program on NBC–Blue, Glenn Miller's Sunset Serenade featuring prizes Miller paid for out-of-pocket. A review in Billboard commented, "Unusual length of

8446-496: The song hit number one on the Billboard charts, staying for a total of 30 weeks. Joe Garland compiled the song from riffs he'd heard in other songs, and is credited on the label. Elements of "In the Mood" can be found in earlier jazz recordings, such as Jimmy O'Bryant 's "Clarinet Getaway", Wingy Manone 's " Tar Paper Stomp ", and Fletcher Henderson 's "Hot and Anxious." Garland put these pieces together and initially offered

8549-459: The song on a flute on the television series Gilligan's Island in episode 26, "Music Hath Charm". Glenn Miller recorded the song on April 2, 1942, while his band was in Hollywood filming the 20th Century-Fox musical film Orchestra Wives in a big band arrangement by Jerry Gray, where the theme " The Girl I Left Behind " can be also heard as an overlay. The arrangement was published by

8652-632: The song, in a six-minute form, to Artie Shaw. Despite playing it for radio broadcast, Shaw found no success with it in this form. Miller purchased the song in June 1939 and asked Eddie Durham to arrange it for his orchestra, and Miller made final tweaks in Victor studios. In a 2000 interview for npr , trombonist Paul Tanner remembered recording the song and playing it live: He would say, "You fellas do this, and you fellas do that, and let's hear it once." And then, "We're gonna cut from this spot to this spot in

8755-501: The song. Akin to "Chattanooga", " (I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo " was filmed as a song and dance number featuring the Nicholas Brothers and also sold a million pressings, with Billboard ranking it among the most popular records of the year. In mid–July, Miller and the band recorded thirteen sides, as James Petrillo , chief of the musicians' union, embarked on a 28-month recording ban . The strike prevented Miller from making additional records in his career, although Victor slowly released

8858-655: The time he graduated from high school in 1921, he had decided to become a professional musician. He missed his own graduation because he was performing out of town. His mother gladly received his diploma for him. In 1923, Miller entered the University of Colorado at Boulder , where he joined Sigma Nu fraternity. He spent most of his time away from school, attending auditions and playing any gigs he could get, including with Boyd Senter's band in Denver. After failing three out of five classes, he dropped out of school to pursue

8961-410: The time, lets you know whose band you're listening to. And that's about all there is to it." In September 1938, the Miller band began recording for Bluebird , a subsidiary of RCA Victor . Cy Shribman, a prominent East Coast businessman, financed the band. In the spring of 1939, the band's fortunes improved with a date at the Meadowbrook Ballroom in Cedar Grove, New Jersey , and more dramatically at

9064-586: The town orchestra. He played cornet and mandolin, but he switched to trombone by 1916. In 1918, Miller and his family moved to Fort Morgan , Colorado, where he went to Fort Morgan High School . In the fall of 1919, he joined the F.M.H.S. Maroons, the high school football team that won the Northern Colorado American Football Conference in 1920. He was named Best Left End in Colorado in 1921. For two years, Miller

9167-721: The unit from England to France. By this time, SHAEF had relocated to Versailles. It was determined that reliable radio broadcasting could be accomplished from Paris and that the Miller orchestra could be seen in person at Paris-area hospitals and by ground troops on leave from the front lines. The move was set for mid-December. As a precaution, the Miller organization had to prerecord eighty hours of broadcasts prior to moving, in addition to their normal schedule. Meanwhile, preparations in France were behind schedule. On December 11, 1944, Niven ordered Miller to replace his executive officer, Lt. Donald Haynes, to fly ahead and complete arrangements before

9270-427: The voicing of Miller's saxophone section) in the middle [of the quintet's harmonies]". Frank Sinatra and Mel Tormé held the orchestra in high regard. Tormé credited Miller with giving him helpful advice when he first started his singing and songwriting career in the 1940s. Tormé met Miller in 1942, the meeting facilitated by Tormé's father and Ben Pollack. Tormé and Miller discussed " That Old Black Magic ", which

9373-505: Was already a veteran of bands like Gene Krupa and Tommy Dorsey in the 1940s. He was also a major exponent of modern jazz in the 1950s. He never saw Miller as leading a swinging jazz band, but DeFranco is extremely fond of certain aspects of the Glenn Miller style. "I found that when I opened with 'Moonlight Serenade', I could see men and women weeping as the music carried them back to years gone by." De Franco says, "the beauty of Glenn Miller's ballads ... caused people to dance together." At

9476-466: Was an American big band conductor, arranger, composer, trombone player, and recording artist before and during World War II , when he was an officer in the US Army Air Forces . His civilian band, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra was one of the most popular and successful bands of the 20th century and the big band era. His military group, the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra,

9579-561: Was an evolutionary step beyond his civilian band. Broadcasting and recording from New York, the Miller unit broadcast I Sustain the Wings . This weekly series was first carried by CBS starting on June 5, 1943, and then by NBC from September 18, 1943, through June 10, 1944. Miller's unit was succeeded on the series by the AAFTC orchestra directed by M/Sgt. Harry Bluestone, when the Miller band deployed overseas. After Miller died in December 1944,

9682-445: Was attached to SHAEF in London, and was quartered at Milton Ernest near Bedford, England. When the band arrived in London, they were quartered in a BBC Radio office at 25 Sloane Court. Unfortunately, this was in the middle of "Buzz Bomb Alley", an area of sleepless nights because of the constant barrage of German flying V-1 bombs. Miller arranged for new quarters and transportation to move to Bedford on July 2, 1944. The next morning,

9785-503: Was even better. Miller and two others died at sea when their plane crashed into the English Channel on the flight headed from England to France on Friday, December 15, 1944. After an official investigation, the three missing Army Air Forces casualties received the "Finding of Death" of December 15, 1944. Glenn Miller and his Orchestra was the best-selling recording band from 1939 to 1942. Miller's civilian band did not have

9888-644: Was filmed by American Forces Network on July 29, 1944.  General James H. Doolittle, Commanding General of the Eighth Air Force, showed his appreciation as he famously announced, "Captain Miller, next to a letter from home, your band is the greatest morale booster in the European Theater." This film is now in the care of the National Archives. (RG 342-USAF-49520 (film), NARA; Eighth Air Force, 520.071, A5835, AFHRA). During November 1944, Miller and Niven sought and received approval to move

9991-434: Was intended to represent a military band approaching, passing, and fading into the distance. It typically included an introduction played p or pp, in imitation of bugle calls or drums, then themes played progressively louder until a recapitulation of the first theme(s), gradually dying away and finishing pp, ppp, or even pppp . The original piano version of "American Patrol" follows this scheme. "American Patrol"

10094-494: Was just emerging as a new song by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen . Miller told Tormé to pick up every song by Mercer and study it and to become a voracious reader of anything he could find, because "all good lyric writers are great readers." In an interview with George T. Simon in 1948, Sinatra lamented the inferior quality of music he was recording in the late '40s, in comparison with "those great Glenn Miller things" from eight years earlier. Frank Sinatra's recording sessions from

10197-780: Was not recoverable, Miller was allowed to have a memorial headstone placed at the US Army-operated Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. In February 1945, he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal . The son of Mattie Lou (née Cavender) Miller and Lewis Elmer Miller, Alton Glen Miller was born in Clarinda, Iowa . He added the second n to "Glenn" during high school. Like his father (Lewis Elmer) and his siblings (Elmer Deane, John Herbert and Emma Irene), Miller went by his middle name, Glenn. As Dennis Spragg of

10300-498: Was one of the editors of his own high school yearbook, "Memories". In each of the yearbooks he edited, his name was spelled both Glen with one n, and Glenn with a double n. During his senior year, he became so interested in dance band music that he formed a band with some classmates. The high school orchestra was an after school activity, but he played there too. For a time, classes in harmony, piano, violin, and music appreciation were full, but classes were discontinued. However, by

10403-836: Was performed by the Marine Band on July 2, 1892, in Portland, Oregon . The 1893 Annual Meeting of the American Street-Railway Association included a performance of "American Patrol" by Clauder's Exposition Band. Also, in 1893, Conterno's Band and Orchestra performed it as part of their concert at Paradise Park in New York. In 1896, Halle's Concert Band performed it as part of Fourth of July celebrations at Winthrop Park in New York City . The Professor, played by Russell Johnson , performed

10506-446: Was planning to form a new group. The newly reformed band featured several longtime associates of Miller. From his first orchestra, Miller invited back Hal McIntyre , and hired Paul Tanner , Wilbur Schwartz , Ray Eberle (who was the younger brother of Jimmy Dorsey's vocalist Bob Eberly ), and his old friend Chummy MacGregor . Miller's perseverance, business expertise, combined with a penchant for showmanship and musical taste, provided

10609-430: Was pretty dejected and came to see me. He asked, "What do you do? How do you make it?" I said, "I don't know, Glenn. You just stay with it." Discouraged, Miller returned to New York. He realized that he needed to develop a unique sound and decided to make the clarinet play a melodic line with a tenor saxophone holding the same note, while three other saxophones harmonized within a single octave. George T. Simon discovered

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