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Alton Glenn Miller | ||||||||||||||||
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Born: March 1, 1904 Hometown: Clarinda, Iowa Instrument: Trombone Music Training: Self taught Bands and Orchestras: Ben Pollack, The Dorsey Band, Ray Noble Orchestra Signature Song: "Moonlight Seranade" Glenn Miller biography: Glenn Miller got his start in music in North Platte, Nebraska when his father bought him a mandolin. He promptly traded it in for a battered old horn. In 1923 Miller enrolled at the University of Colorado, but dropped out after flunking 3 out of 5 classes one semester. He decided to concentrate on his music. After touring with several orchestras he wound up in Los Angeles where he landed a spot in Ben Pollack's band which included a young clarinetist by the name Benny Goodman. After arriving in New York, in 1928, he sent for his college sweetheart, Helen Burger. The two of them were married and Glenn earned a living as a freelance trombonist and arranger. During this time he played and recorded with such artists as Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby, Coleman Hawkins and Benny Goodman. By 1934 his success landed him the position of musical director for the Dorsey Band. After that he orgnaized the Ray Noble Orchestra. The year 1935 marked the first time that he recorded under his own name, however, he did not receive immediate acclaim for his work and continued playing with the Ray Noble group. In 1937 he formed his own band and made several recordings for Decca Records. After long stints in New Orleans and Dallas the group played mostly one-nighters and due to a lack of funds he was forced to disband. He returned home to New York. It was sometime around this period that Miller had an epiphany which led to his signature sound produced by the clarinet playing the melodic line along with the tenor sax suppoted by 3 other saxophones. The second Glenn Miller Orchestra formed in 1938 was a huge success which led to an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York. "Tuxedo Junction" sold 115,000 copies the first week. He follwed this up with "In the Mood", and "Pennsylvania 6-5000." His sudden success led to the "Moonlight Seranade" radio series for Chesterfield. In 1941 he worked on his first Hollywood movie Sun Valley Seranade which introduced the million record selling "Chattanooga Choo Choo." This success was followed up by the film Orchestra Wives. On October 7, 1942 he was inducted into the Army where he was appointed Captain in the Army Special Corps. Here he formed the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. In 1943 the group was relocated to England to entertain the troops. Here the band participated in 800 performances in less than a year, but Glenn would not finish the tour. In the Fall of 1944, the group was scheduled to make a six week tour of Europe while being stationed in Paris. Glenn decided to fly out ahead to make arrangements. On December 15 he boarded an Army transport which took off never to be seen or heard from again. Died: December 15, 1944
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