Brass Artist Project

Dylan Keiser MUSE250

Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller, an American, was born in Clarinda, Iowa, on March 1, 1904. Glenn grew
up playing the rather unusual mandolin, but eventually he got his hands on a brass instrument
and stuck with it. His family whisked him away to many different cities throughout his
schooling life. Glenn eventually found himself at Fort Morgan, Colorado playing in the band
there. He graduated high school in 1921 and quickly joined the Boyd Senters orchestra
afterwards. After two years of the professional musicians life, he quit to go to college at the
University of Colorado.
College seemed to not suite Miller, though, and dropped out after a year of attendance to
return to the life of a musician. He soon moved out to Los Angeles where he hopped into Ben
Pollacks band. After awhile, he decided to head on again with another move; this time to New
York City. For quite a few years, he freelanced as a trombonist and arranger in the Big Apple. In
1934, he worked as a director for a couple different bands including Tommy Dorseys band as
well as the American orchestra for a British bandleader Ray Noble. After a few years of soul
searching, trial and error, and a whole lot of instrumentalists later, Glenn got his own band off
the ground; the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
His band was struggling to gain popularity until he landed some gigs at the Glen Island
Casino in New Rochelle, New York. This opportunity, which occurred in 1939, gave the Miller
name its fame. These gigs were broadcast on the radio, spreading their sound far and wide.
Later that year, Glenn composed his first big hit named Wishing (Will Make it So) which put
him even farther up the popularity scale. One of the most famous of his ballades, Moonlight
Serenade, was published soon afterwards gaining him top position in the charts. Millers
Orchestra soon became the most beloved swing band in America with the addition of popular

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Dylan Keiser MUSE250
hits like In the Mood, Pennsylvania 6-5000, and Tuxedo Junction. All of these were
released in 1940 and can be found on such recordings such as Glenn Millers Original
Recordings; Plays selections from the Glenn Miller Story and Other Hits.
In the next few years he produced a couple of films featuring some of his new hits
including Sun Valley Serenade in 1941, and Orchestra Wives in 1942. Sun Valley Serenade
featured his song Chattanooga Choo Choo. After producing his second film, Orchestra Wives,
he was inducted into the U.S. Army to participate in the Second World War. He later transferred
into the Army Air Force and became part of the Army Air Force Band, giving him the chance to
avoid most of the dangers of war.
The world mysteriously lost the King of Jazz in 1944 when he received word that he
was to be moved to the newly liberated city of Paris for a performance. He boarded a plane
leaving ahead of the others to make early preparations. Somewhere between England, the station
just prior, and France, his plane disappeared. No one to this day knows what happened to the
plane; whether it crashed, was shot down, or any other number of tragedies. His body was never
recovered, leaving behind his wife and two children. His band did not disband after his death,
and kept playing for a couple months after his disappearance. It was later revived to honor the
life and works of Glenn and still tours today.
Glenn Miller left the world with an amazing legacy. He even had a film produced about
his story in 1954 called The Glenn Miller Story! Some of the most famous and popular big band
jazz charts even in the modern age were composed by Miller. No big band jazz swing dance
would be complete without a blaring, upbeat In the Mood, or the classy and fun Pennsylvania
6-5000. He paved the way for many other big band jazz groups, and helped spur the uprising of

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Dylan Keiser MUSE250
the swing era and venue. Overall, America, and the world, was blessed by the brilliant ideas of
the man named Glenn Miller.

A few links to some Glenn Miller;

In The Mood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPXwkWVEIIw
Moonlight Serenade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n92ATE3IgIs
Chattanooga Choo Choo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XQybKMXL-k
A String of Pearls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qq2AV7Wx5w
Tuxedo Junction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=iBTYcqtaOjg&index=5&list=RD8Qq2AV7Wx5w
Pennsylvania 6-5000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=m_muFwwTSMs&list=RD8Qq2AV7Wx5w&index=7

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Miller_Orchestra

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http://ww2nation.com/event/music-the-glenn-miller-orchestra-at-the-bridgewater-hallmanchester/

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Citation
Biography.com Editors. "Glenn Miller." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 25 Apr.
2016. <http://www.biography.com/people/glenn-miller-37990#king-of-swing>.
Miller, Glenn. Glenn Miller Plays Selections from The Glenn Miller Story, and Other Hits. RCA
Victor, 1956. Vinyl recording.