GLENN MILLER

Glenn Miller was the most popular bandleader in the United States. Between 1938 and 1942, his orchestra sold an unprecedented number of best-selling RCA Victor and Bluebird records. His recording of Chattanooga Choo Choo was atop the Billboard Top 10 for an unprecedented 12 weeks in a row. Furthermore, the Miller band appeared in the 20th Century Fox motion pictures Sun Valley Serenade and Orchestra Wives. Moreover, they broadcast the Chesterfield Moonlight Serenade program over CBS. Additionally, listeners from coast-to-coast could hear late-evening Miller broadcasts from hotels, theaters, and ballrooms. But as World War II inevitably gripped America, Miller launched NBC Sunset Serenade broadcasts to salute members of the armed forces. Therefore, wanting to do more, in September 1942, the patriotic Miller disbanded and enlisted in the Army. His authorized biographer, Dennis M. Spragg, has documented Miller’s exceptional service in the definitive and critically praised biography Glenn Miller Declassified.

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC

RISE TO FAME

Born in Clarinda, Iowa, March 1, 1904, Miller grew up in North Platte, Nebraska, Grant City, Missouri and finally Fort Morgan, Colorado, where he graduated high school. But as an undergraduate at the University of Colorado Boulder, Miller left his studies to embark on a career as a professional musician. Following stints with the bands of Holley Moyer, Boyd Senter, and Tommy Watkins, popular bandleader Ben Pollack hired Miller in Los Angeles. With Pollack, Miller gravitated to New York, where he became a leading trombonist and arranger. Meanwhile, George Gershwin entrusted Miller with arranging parts for the Broadway hit Girl Crazy. Moreover, the up-and-coming Miller worked with Red Nichols and Smith Ballew before organizing the Dorsey Brothers Band. Furthermore, when Tommy and Jimmy broke up, British star Ray Noble commissioned Miller to organize his American band. Consequently, Miller developed the famous “sound” that he would employ with his own band.  

RADIO, RECORDS AND MOTION PICTURES

Following a disappointing 1937, Miller successfully reorganized his band in 1938. With effective representation by agent Michael Nidorf of Rockwell-O’Keefe (late General Amusements), Miller gained national prominence. Firstly, a long-term recording deal with RCA Victor-Bluebird records. But it was successful engagements at the Meadowbrook Ballroom, Cedar Grove, New Jersey, and the Glen Island Casino, New Rochelle, New York, with coast-to-coast NBC broadcasts that gave Miller national exposure. Then the “King of Jazz” Paul Whiteman recommended Miller to succeed him on his CBS Chesterfield program in December 1939. Glenn Miller’s popular Chesterfield Moonlight Serenade ran three nights per-week until he joined the Army. 20th Century Fox signed Miller for Sun Valley Serenade (1941) and Orchestra Wives (1942). A third film was deferred when Miller joined the military, However, Fox signed Miller for more films, planned for after his return from service. Learn more about Glenn Miller’s popular music and record-setting achievements:

ARMY AIR FORCES ORCHESTRA

It is no overstatement to say that Miller’s music was the “soundtrack of the greatest generation.” This was never more in evidence that with his Army Air Forces Orchestra. Following a brief orientation with the Army Service Command, the Army Air Forces acquired Miller’s services in December 1942. Moreover, the AAF appointed him as Director of Bands for the Training Command. There, Miller coordinated a network of base bands. Moreover, the Training Command developed a Motion Picture unit in Hollywood and Radio Production units in Hollywood, Fort Worth and New York. Miller personally developed and led the New York radio unit. They recorded and broadcast important programs for American and overseas audiences. Furthermore, many believe this was the greatest big band of all time. Miller expanded his traditional big band in size and scope with a string section and a repertoire including jazz, popular music, and light classics.

“NEXT TO A LETTER FROM HOME”

In June 1944, the Miller AAF Orchestra deployed to the European Theater of Operations at the request of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and became the American Band of the Allied Expeditionary Forces. Their important mission was to broadcast musical entertainment for the allied forces and the nations of Europe. Furthermore, they appeared at airbases for American service personnel. Gen. James H. Doolittle told Miller, “next to a letter from home, your band is the greatest morale booster in the ETO.” Moreover, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces, viewed Miller as a vital asset. Therefore, SHAEF made plans to move the ABAEF from London to Paris. Consequently, this fit Miller’s desire to get ever closer to the front lines. Unfortunately, on December 15, 1944, Miller disappeared aboard an AAF C-64 airplane, while en-route to France to complete arrangements for the move. Learn more about the AAF Orchestra:

RICH LEGACY

The ABAEF moved to France and continued Miller’s successful service until the end of World War II. Many of the AAF personnel joined a postwar Miller band led by Tex Beneke. The official orchestra continues to this day, now under the dynamic direction of Erik Stabnau. Consequently, Miller’s music is dramatically popular and evocative with audiences worldwide. In conclusion, the important Miller legacy is preserved and communicated to new generations by Dennis M. Spragg of the Glenn Miller Collections, American Music Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder and the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society. Therefore, please check regularly for additional and updated studies. Glenn Miller’s music is the soundtrack of America’s greatest geeneration.

GLENN MILLER BIRTHPLACE SOCIETY

The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society is the guardian of Glenn Miller’s birth home and the Glenn Miller Museum in Clarinda, Iowa. Firstly, Dennis serves as GMBS historian. Furthermore, the GMBS and director Shari Greenwood, with the Glenn Miller Collections and Dennis, are closely aligned toward the preservation and future of Glenn Miller’s legacy in cooperation with Glenn Miller Productions (the current Glenn Miller Orchestra). Likewise, we produce annual and permanent exhibits for the GMBS, as well as annual histories to accompany the exhibits. Learn more and visit the Glenn Miller Museum online.

GLENN MILLER GALLERIES

Here are evocative image galleries with descriptions of events in the career of Glenn Miller:

GLENN MILLER DECLASSIFIED

Learn more about Glenn Miller in his critically praised biography:

NEW GLENN MILLER CD

Discover the new and historic Glenn Miller 2-CD package with 60 previously unissued broadcast performances: