In Glenn Miller's Footsteps: Blues Serenades & Marches [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED]
Sad but true, it's an ill wind which blows nobody any good, but in the case of Tex Beneke, it is not certain that the premature, and mysterious death of Glenn Miller in December 1944 was ultimately to his benefit. True, Miller's death propelled Tex to the front of the band, but he was forever known as the guy who kept the Glenn Miller sound alive, even when the orchestra was billed as his own. In short, if Gordon 'Tex' Beneke had personal ambitions in the musical field, they were to remain largely submerged under the shadow of a dead giant. Fortunately, for the benefit of popular music, he shared the same high standards as his former boss and through the later 1940s, showed the way Glenn Miller himself may have developed the 'Big Band' sound. Twenty Two commercial recordings are presented here, showcasing Tex Beneke through the few years when he was leading the Glenn Miller band and recording as such, and also recordings made under his own name. Whether playing tunes closely associated with Miller or otherwise, the sound lingers and there is nothing wrong with that. The Glenn Miller magic is still recognised today and for being part of it, Tex Beneke will always be remembered.