Glenn Miller

Alton Glenn Miller (March 1, 1904 – missing in actionThe website for Arlington National Cemetery refers to Glenn Miller as "missing in action since Dec. 15, 1944" see "Major Glenn Miller" , Arlington National Cemetery by Kathryn Shenkle. accessdate March 2012. December 15, 1944) was an American big band musician, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known big bands. Miller's notable recordings include "In the Mood", "Moonlight Serenade", "Pennsylvania 6-5000", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "A String of Pearls", "At Last", "(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo", "American Patrol", "Tuxedo Junction", "Elmer's Tune", and "Little Brown Jug".Glenn Miller had 23 number one records and 72 top ten hits from 1939 to 1943; see "Song artist 6 - Glenn Miller", Tsort, accessdate March 2012, more than Elvis Presley (18 No. 1s, 38 top 10s) and The Beatles (20 No. 1s, 33 top 10s) had in their careers. See "The Glenn Miller story", GlennMillerOrchestra.se. See "Overview of Achievements", Elvis Presley Enterprises inc. accessdate September 9, 2011. During World War II, he led bands in the U.S. Army. While he was traveling in France during World War II, Glenn Miller's airplane disappeared over the English Channel.

Early life and career
Miller was born in Clarinda, Iowa. His parents were Mattie Lou (née Cavender) and Lewis Elmer Miller. In 1915, Miller's family moved to Grant City, Missouri, and he started playing in the town orchestra. At first, he played cornet and mandolin, but he switched to trombone by 1916.Yanow, Scott. Classic Jazz. San Francisco: Backbeat, 2001. Print. In 1918, the Miller family moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado, where Miller went to high school. During his senior year, he started a band with some classmates. They played "dance band music". By the time Miller graduated from high school in 1921, he had decided to become a professional musician.

In 1923, Miller entered the University of Colorado at Boulder, but he spent most of his time away from school. He played auditions and gigs. He did not do well in school. He dropped out of school, and decided to start a career as a professional musician. He later studied under Joseph Schillinger and composed "Moonlight Serenade"., The Schillinger System. In 1926, Miller toured with several groups, eventually landing a good spot in Ben Pollack's group in Los Angeles. While playing with this band, Miller wrote several musical arrangements and also co-wrote his first composition, "Room 1411", with Benny Goodman."Benny Goodman's Boys" , Red Hot Jazz. In 1928, he married Helen Burger in New York City. At first, he was the main trombone soloist of the band. But when another trombone player joined, Miller was given fewer solos. At this point, he decided he should mainly be a composer. In the late 1920s, he wrote and published a songbook.Metronome, 1928, Volume 44, Page 42.

In the early 1930s, Miller was a trombonist, arranger, and composer in The Dorsey Brothers.Simon (1980), pp. 65–66. Miller composed the songs "Annie's Cousin Fannie",Simon (1980), p. 9."Annie's Cousin Fanny" was recorded for Decca and Brunswick, a total of three times. The Brunswick release is catalogued Brunswick 6938, and one of the Decca recordings is catalogued Decca 117-A. These recordings are from the summer of 1934. See the website "Dorsey Brothers Orchestra" , RedHotJazz.com for more information about dates "Dese Dem Dose","Dese Dem Dose" was recorded February 6, 1935 and released on the Decca label. For more information and where the preceding sentence was taken from, see "Dorsey Brothers Orchestra" , RedHotJazz.com "Harlem Chapel Chimes", and "Tomorrow's Another Day" in 1934 and 1935. In 1935, he started an American orchestra for British bandleader Ray Noble. In this band, he featured a lead clarinet over four saxophones. He later used this arrangement in his own bands.

Glenn Miller formed his first band in 1937. The band broke up after playing its last show at the Ritz Ballroom in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on January 2, 1938.George Thomas Simon, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, New York: Crowell, 1974, , p. 105.

Success from 1938 to 1942
Miller was discouraged and returned to New York. He realized that the band needed to have a "sound" that was different from other bands. He decided to make the clarinet and tenor saxophone play the melody together, while three other saxophones played harmony. Miller hired a saxophonist named Wilbur Schwartz, but instead had him play lead clarinet. This was unique because it did not rely on repeated motifs, like other bands.

Miller had a staff who wrote and arranged songs for the band. They were Jerry Gray,"Jerry Gray", Big Band Library. Retrieved on July 29, 2011. Bill Finegan, Billy May, and George Williams.

Bluebird Records and Glen Island Casino
In September 1938, the Miller band began making recordings for Bluebird Records.Simon (1980), p. 143. Cy Shribman, a prominent East Coast businessman, began financing the band.Twomey , Jazzsight.com. Retrieved on July 29, 2011. In the spring of 1939, the band played at the Meadowbrook Ballroom in Cedar Grove, New Jersey and at the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York. At Glen Island, 1800 people attended Afterwards, the band became much more popular.Simon (1980), p. 170. The band's recording "Tuxedo Junction" sold 115,000 copies in the first week.Glennmillerorchestra.com. Glennmillerorchestra.com. Retrieved on July 29, 2011.

On February 10, 1942, Miller received a gold record for "Chattanooga Choo-Choo".Miller, Glenn, A Legendary Performer, RCA, 1939/1991. "Chattanooga Choo Choo" was performed by the Miller orchestra with his singers Gordon "Tex" Beneke, Paula Kelly and the vocal group, the Modernaires."Band Bio" , The Modernaires (October 20, 2000). Retrieved on July 29, 2011. Other singers with this orchestra included Marion Hutton, Skip Nelson,Glenn Miller » Biography , Legacy Recordings (copyright 2011). Retrieved on July 29, 2011. Ray Eberle,"Ray Eberle" , Solid!. Kay Starr,Kay Starr Biography, Members.tripod.com. Retrieved on July 29, 2011. Ernie Caceres,Ernie Caceres , Landing.com. Retrieved on July 29, 2011. Dorothy ClaireSolid! – Dorothy Claire , Parabrisas.com. Retrieved on July 29, 2011. and Jack Lathrop.Liner notes to RCA Vi LPT 6701 , also see "Moonlight Serenade" by John Flower. (PDF). Retrieved on July 29, 2011.

Motion pictures
Miller and his band appeared in two films. The first one was Sun Valley Serenade (1941)Sun Valley Serenade (1941), Internet Movie Database. The second was Orchestra Wives (1942).Orchestra Wives (1942), Internet Movie Database.

Army Air Force Band: 1942–1944

In 1942, Miller decided to join the war effort because he was too old to be drafted. At first, he volunteered for the Navy but was told he was not needed.Simon (1980), pp. 309–310. Miller then wrote to Army Brigadier General Charles Young. He asked to lead an army band so he could entertain the Allied Forces, and was accepted this time. He earned the rank of captain and he was soon promoted to major by August 1944.

He was placed in the United States Army at first, but was then moved to the Army Air Forces.Simon (1980), p. 324. Captain Glenn Miller served as an officer at the training center at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, in December 1942. He played trombone with the Rhythmaires, a 15-piece dance band, both on the base and in the town.

Miller formed a large marching band. He tried to modernize military music. Some officers didn't like it, but he continued because other leaders supported him. For example, he combined blues and jazz with the traditional military march."War Two: The Stars Wore Stripes" , Ftmeade.army.mil. Retrieved on July 29, 2011. He formed the Army Air Force Band, with 50 members. In the summer of 1944, he took it to England, where he gave 800 performancesThey Served Here: Thirty-Three Maxwell Men , "Glenn Miller", pp. 37–38. Benton, Jeffrey C. (1999). Air University Press. and recorded a series of records. The music was used in American Forces Network radio broadcasting for entertainment and counter-propaganda against fascism. Miller also talked on the radio. One time, he said:
"America means freedom and there's no expression of freedom quite so sincere as music."

Disappearance
On December 15, 1944, Miller was to fly from the United Kingdom to Paris, France, to play for the soldiers there. His plane departed from Clapham and disappeared while flying over the English Channel.Butcher, pp. 203–205. There were two other people on the plane: Lt. Col. Norman Francis Baessell and pilot John Stuart Morgan.

There have been many theories about what happened to the plane. According to a 2014 article in the Chicago Tribune, Miller's plane crashed because it had a faulty carburetor.Reich, Howard. "'History Detectives' explains why bandleader Glenn Miller vanished" Chicago Tribune (July 7, 2014)

In February 1945, Miller's wife, Helen accepted the Bronze Star Medal for him.Simon (1980), p. 433.

Legacy

Civilian band legacy
When Glenn Miller was alive, various bandleaders like Bob Chester imitated his style.Solid!, Bob Chester biography/filmography , Parabrisas.com (March 20, 1908). Retrieved on July 29, 2011. In 1942, Miller gave singer Mel Tormé advice about songwriting.

By the early 1950s, more bands started to copy Miller's style.Ralph Flanagan, Bigbandlibrary.com. Retrieved on July 29, 2011."Jerry Gray", Bigbandlibrary.com. Retrieved on July 29, 2011.Solid!, Ray Anthony biography/filmography , Parabrisas.com (January 20, 1922). Retrieved on July 29, 2011.

The Miller estate authorized an official Glenn Miller "ghost band" in 1946. This band was led by Tex Beneke, former tenor saxophonist and a singer for the civilian band. It was similar to the Army Air Force Band because it had a large string section.Simon (1980), pp. 437–39. At first called the "Glenn Miller Orchestra Under the Direction of Tex Beneke", it later became "The Tex Beneke Orchestra".

A film about Miller's life, The Glenn Miller Story, was released in 1953. Because of this, the Miller estate asked Ray McKinley to lead a new ghost band in 1956.Butcher, page 263 This band still tours the United States."Ray McKinley", Drummerworld.

Army Air Force band legacy
After Miller's disappearance, his Army Air Force band was decommissioned and sent back to the United States. Another band, called "the 314", took its place.

Compositions
Miller composed at least fourteen songs, both by himself or with other people. He added lyrics to another song. These and other songs were recorded by Miller's civilian bands and his Army Air Force band.

Grammy Hall of Fame
Glenn Miller had three recordings that were put into the Grammy Hall of Fame after he died. This award is for recordings that are at least 25 years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance."

 Glenn Miller: Grammy Hall of Fame AwardsGrammy Hall of Fame Database . Year Recorded Title Genre Label Year Inducted Notes 1939 "Moonlight Serenade" Jazz (single) RCA Bluebird 1991 1941 "Chattanooga Choo Choo" Jazz (single) RCA Bluebird 1996 1939 "In the Mood" Jazz (single) RCA Bluebird 1983

Related pages

List of people who disappeared mysteriously: 1910–1990
 Kalamazoo, Michigan

References
Notes

Bibliography

 Chattanooga Choo Choo-The Life and Times of the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra by Richard Grudens 2004 

 ASIN: B0007DMEDQ

Other websites

 The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society, which organizes the annual Glenn Miller Birthplace Festival in Clarinda, Iowa


 Recordings Miller made for Brunswick records as a sideman in the late 1920s and early 1930s
 "Glenn's Swing Orchestra" - tribute to Miller (in French language)
 "The Disappearance of Glenn Miller"  - documentary in the PBS Series History Detectives

Category:1904 births
Category:1944 deaths
Category:American jazz musicians
Category:American military personnel of World War II
Category:Aviation deaths
Category:Bandleaders
Category:Musicians from Iowa
Category:Military people missing in action
Category:Missing American people
Category:Military people from Iowa