Glenn Miller

Glenn Miller

Source: Glenn Miller Orchestra

Born on 1 March 1904 in Clarinda, Iowa, trombonist and arranger, Glenn Miller, remains one of the most enduring figures in big bands despite his death at an early age. Leaving high school for college in Boulder, Colorado, as a student he played in the band of Boyd Senter in Denver, then dropped out of school to tour with bands that eventually took him to Los Angeles where he found spots with Ben Pollack and Victor Young.

Miller first recorded with Pollack and his Californians on September 14, 1926, those unissued by Victor. Miller is also listed on the 1979 issue of 'The Legendary Earl Baker Cylinders 1926'. Miller's initial recordings to issue were also Benny Goodman's, gone down on December 9: 'When I First Met Mary' and 'Deed I Do'. While with Pollack's operation Miller issued a couple titles with Red Nichols' Stompers in October 1927: 'Sugar' and 'Make My Cot Where the Cot-Cot-Cotton Grows'. Miller recorded heavily with Nichols into 1931.

'Sobbin' Blues'   Glenn Miller w Earl Baker

Cylinder recorded latter 1926 in Chicago   Not issued   Jazz Archives JA43

Cornet: Earl Baker   Trombone: Glenn Miller

Clarinet: Benny Goodman   Tenor sax: Fud Livingston   Banjo: John Kurzenknabe

Composition: Earl Baker

'When I First Met Mary'   Glenn Miller w Ben Pollack & His Californians

Miller's first recording to see issue

9 Dec 1926 in Chicago   Matrix 37218-3   Victor 20394-B

Cornet: Earl Baker   Trumpet: Harry Greenberg / Al Harris

Trombone / arrangement: Glenn Miller   Clarinet: Benny Goodman

Alto sax: Gil Rodin   Tenor sax: Fud Livingston

Piano / celeste: Wayne Allen   Violin: Victor Young / Al Beller

Banjo: John Kurzenknabe   Tuba: Harry Goodman

Drums: Ben Pollack   Vocal: Joel Ray

Music: Fred Rose   Lyrics: Walter Hirsch   1926

On 23 January 1928 Miller put up 'A Jazz Holiday' and 'Wolverine Blues' with Bennie Goodman's Boys With Jim And Glenn (Jimmy McPartland). Miller began setting tracks with the Sam Lanin Orchestra on 27 January: 'Everywhere You Go'. In March of 1928 he joined Goodman and McPartland in the recording of 'I'm More Than Satisfied' along with two takes of 'Oh Baby' with Nat Shilkret's All Star Orchestra. Miller issued strongly in those early days not only with Goodman and Red Nichols, but the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra as well. His first tracks with Tommy had been with Shilkret's All Star Orchestra above. Come Benny Goodman's Boys on 4 June 1928. Miller first sat in the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra including Jimmy on 21 November 1928 toward titles sang by Smith Ballew. He recorded numerously with the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra into 1935.

'Annie's Cousin Fannie'   Glenn Miller w the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

21 May 1934 in NYC   Matrix B15249-C   Brunswick 6938

Trumpet: Bunny Berigan / Charlie Spivak (?)

Trombone: Tommy Dorsey / Don Matteson / Glenn Miller (arrangement)

Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey

Tenor sax: Skeets Herfurt / Jack Stacy

Piano: Bobby Van Eps   Guitar: Roc Hillman

String bass: Delmar Kaplan   Drums: Ben Pollack

Vocals: Chick Bullock / Kay Weber / Tommy Dorsey / Don Matteson / Glenn Miller

Composition: Glenn Miller

'Dese Dem Dose'   Glenn Miller w the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

6 Feb 1935 in NYC   Matrix 39344-A   Decca 469

Composition / arrangement: Glenn Miller

Other vocalists with whom Miller worked in the early days included the Boswell Sisters from 1932 to 1934, Lee Wiley on a couple occasions in 1933, Mildred Bailey on a few occasions in 1933 and Clark Randall in March 1935.

Miller released his first issues as a bandleader in 1935 backing titles sung by Ballew: 'A Blues Serenade' and 'Moonlight on the Ganges'. Other vocalists with whom Miller worked during the latter part of his career were Marion Hutton (sister to Betty) and Gordon Tex Beneke, both of whom sang with Miller's orchestra regularly from 1938 into 1942. He supported Kay Starr on 'Love with a Capital You' and 'Baby Me' on 26 July of 1939.

'Solo Hop'   Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

Track 4 from first name session as a leader

25 April 1935 in NYC   Matrix 17382-1   Columbia 3058-D

Trumpet: Bunny Berigan / Charlie Spivak

Trombone: Jack Jenny / Glenn Miller (arrangement)

Clarinet / alto sax: Johnny Mince   Tenor sax: Eddie Miller

Piano: Claude Thornhill   Guitar: Larry Hall

String bass: Delmar Kaplan   Drums: Ray Bauduc

Composition: Glenn Miller

'Sunrise Serenade'   Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

10 April 1939 in NYC   Matrix 035731-1   Bluebird 10214

Music: Frankie Carle   Lyrics: Jack Lawrence

'Little Brown Jug'   Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

10 April 1939 in NYC   Matrix 035732-1   Bluebird 10286

Composition: Joseph Eastburn Winner   1869   Arrangement: Miller

'In the Mood'   Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

1 August 1939 in NYC   Matrix 038170-1   Bluebird 10416

Composition: Joe Garland

'Carnegie Hall Concert'   Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

6 Oct 1939 in NYC   RCA Victor LPM-1506   1958

Trumpet: Clyde Hurley / R.D. McMickle / John Best / Lee Knowles

Trombone: Glenn Miller / Al Mastren / Paul Tanner / Tommy Mack

Saxophone: Al Klink / Hal McIntyre / Jimmy Abado / Wilbur Schwartz / Tex Beneke

Piano: J.C. McGregor   Guitar: Richard Fisher

String bass: Rowland Bundock   Drums: Maurice Purtill

Vocals: Ray Eberle / Marion Hutton

By 1939 Miller's band was such a success that he was constantly on Billboard's popularity charts. Music VF has him topping the charts at #1 seven times in 1939, seven times in 1940, four times in 1941 and 4 times in 1942. TsorT lists his most popular title overall as 'In the Mood' (1939). Glenn Miller's #1 titles on Billboard:

   Blue Orchids   1939
   Moon Love   1939
   Over the Rainbow   1939
   Stairway to the Stars   1939
   The Man with the Mandolin   1939
   Wishing (Will Make It So)   1939
   In the Mood   1939
   Blueberry Hill   1940
   Careless   1940
   Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)   1940
   Imagination   1940
   The Woodpecker Song   1940
   Tuxedo Junction   1940
   When You Wish Upon a Star   1940
   Chattanooga Choo Choo   1941
   Elmer's Tune   1941
   Song of the Volga Boatmen   1941
   You and I   1941
   (I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo   1942
   A String of Pearls   1942
   Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me)   1942
   Moonlight Cocktail   1942

Miller began broadcasting on CBS for Chesterfield cigarettes on December 27, 1939, with the Andrews Sisters, a series that would run nearly three years with 'Moonlight Serenade' as its theme, with the exception of the boycott of ASCAP composers from January 1 to October 29, 1941 when Miller substituted his composition with 'Slumber Song' written by John C. MacGregor. 'Moonlight Serenade' otherwise continued as Miller's theme. During this period Miller backed the Modernaires often from 1940 into 1942.

'Tuxedo Junction'   Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

5 Feb 1940 in NYC

Matrix 046786-1 issued on Bluebird 10612 gold

Matrix 046786-2 issued on Bluebird 10612 silver

Music: Frankie Carle / Erskine Hawkins / Bill Johnson / Julian Dash   Lyrics: Buddy Feyne

In 1941 Miller's dance band appeared in the film, 'Sun Valley Serenade', followed by 'Orchestra Wives' the next year. Miller gave his last 'Chesterfield Show' on 24 September of 1942. He gave his last concert in the United States on November 27, 1942, in Passaic, New Jersey. He then joined the Army for patriotic causes, sacrificing an income in the vicinity of $70,000 per month to lead a military orchestra. Tom Lord finds Miller's first recordings with his Army Air Forces Band to be a CBS broadcast of the 'I Sustain the Wings' radio program on 17 July 1943. Glenn was stationed in London where he was promoted from captain to major on 24 July of 1944 [Shenkle] and supported such as Dinah Shore on 'Stardust' and 'All I Do Is Dream of You' on 16 September 1944.

'Chattanooga Choo Choo'   Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

From the film 'Sun Valley Serenade' directed by H. Bruce Humberstone

Filmed in Hollywood 24 March - 3 May 1941   Premiere: 21 August 1941

Trumpet: Dale "Mickey" McMickle / Ray Anthony / John Best / Billy May

Trombone: Glenn Miller / Paul Tanner / Jimmy Priddy / Frank D'Annolfo

Clarinet / alto sax: Hal McIntyre / Wilbur Schwartz

Alto sax / baritone sax: Ernie Caceres

Tenor sax: Tex Beneke / Al Klink

Piano: Chummy MacGregor   Guitar: Jack Lathrop

String bass: Trigger Alpert   Drums: Maurice Purtill

Music: Harry Warren   Lyrics: Mack Gordon   Arrangement: Jerry Gray

'A String of Pearls'   Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

3 Nov 1941 in NYC   Matrix 068068-1   Bluebird 11382

Music: Jerry Gray   Lyrics: Eddie DeLange   Arrangement: Jerry Gray

'At Last'   Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

From the film 'Orchestra Wives' directed by Archie Mayo

Filmed March - May 1942   Premiere: 4 Sep 1942

Vocals: Ray Eberle / Lynn Bari lip-syncing Pat Friday

Music: Harry Warren   Lyrics: Mack Gordon   Arrangement: Bill Finegan

'St Louis Blues March'   Glenn Miller and His Army Air Forces Band

29 Oct 1943 at the Victor recording studio in NYC   Matrix VP-266   V-Disc 65

Film: Miller's Army Air Forces Band:

War Bond Parade in High Wycombe, England, on 19 July 1944

Music: Harry Warren   Lyrics: Mack Gordon   Arrangement: Bill Finegan

From 'St Louis Blues' by WC Handy in 1914

'Moonlight Serenade'   Miller's theme song   Glenn Miller and His Army Air Forces Band

NBC broadcast of the 'I Sustain the Wings' radio show in NYC on 8 April 1944

'Uncle Sam Presents...Capt. Glenn Miller'   Hep Records EP 32   1985

Music: Glenn Miller   Lyrics: Mitchell Parish

Among Miller's final recordings of 1944 with his Army Air Forces Orchestra were Programs 1-6 of 'The German Wehrmacht Hour', a British broadcast all in Deutsch including vocals aired in Europe especially for German soldiers (the Wehrmacht was the German defense force). Program 1 was recorded in London on 30 October. Program 6 went down on 27 November. Titles on this show put together for the enemy included such as 'Moonlight Serenade', 'Everybody Loves My Baby', 'Jeep Jockey Jump', 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot', 'Body and Soul', 'Beat Me Daddy', 'Get Happy', 'Auf Wiedersehen' and 'Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year'.

'Smoke Get's In Your Eyes'   Glenn Miller and His Army Air Forces Band

Program 4 of the 'The German Wehrmacht Hour' radio show aired from London

20 Nov 1944   Matrix CTPX-12793-1   Soundcraft LP1018

Music: Jerome Kern   Lyrics: Otto Harbach

'All the Things You Are'   Glenn Miller and His Army Air Forces Band

Program 6 of the 'The German Wehrmacht Hour' radio show aired from London

27 Nov 1944   Matrix CTPX-12807-1   RCA DPM1-0558

Vocal: Johnny Desmond

Music: Jerome Kern   Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

Come the 'Moonlight Serenade' radio program on 1 December 1944 featuring 'Little Brown Jug' (Avid AMSC558) and 'Parachute Jump' (Magic AWE11), those gone down at the Co-Partners Hall in Bedford. Tom Lord considers that Miller's final recording may be 'Red Cavalry March' ('Russian Patrol') on 12 December, also for the 'Moonlight Serenade' show, this time from the Queensbury Club in London. Only three days later Miller disappeared on 15 December 1944 while returning to England on a trip to Paris, his plane gone down over the English Channel probably due to a faulty carburetor. He'd given some 800 performances with his Army Air Forces Orchestra.

'Red Cavalry March'   ('Russian Patrol')   Glenn Miller and His Army Air Forces Band

Possibly Miller's final recording on 12 Dec 1944 3 days prior to his death 15 Dec 1944

'Moonlight Serenade' radio show aired from the Queensbury Club in London

Tenor sax: Vince Carbone   Drums: Ray McKinley   Arrangement: Jerry Gray

Version of 'Polyushko-polye' w music by Lev Knipper and lyrics by Viktor Gusev   1933

Ten years after Miller's death Anthony Mann directed the 1954 film tribute to Miller titled 'The Glenn Miller Story' starring James Stewart and June Allyson.