Initially formed by the late, great, bandleader, this orchestra was originally a band put together by Glenn Miller in New York in 1937. However this band did not find the success that Glenn Miller was searching for even thought they released some recordings and made many appearances, and he disbanded them on New Year’s Eve 1937.
He went away and thought about a new sound that would be produced by a reed section and his ideas for using the clarinet and saxophones would soon become his own signature sound that would make its mark in musical history.
In March 1938 the next Glenn Miller Orchestra made an appearance but with this new sound that immediately caught on, they saw almost immediate success. Attendances were the most ever known at many venues on the East Coast of the United States and they would appear at Carnegie Hall and the Hershey Park Ballroom in Pennsylvania where they beat Guy Lombardo’s all-time attendance record.
Carrying on with record-breaking heights, their success in the recording industry was astronomical with hits like “Tuxedo Junction”, “In the Mood” and “Moonlight Serenade” which became the name for a radio series that they appear on three times a week.
Moving into the world of movies in 1941 they travelled to Hollywood to give their sound to Sun Valley Serenade and Orchestra Wives. However, WWII came along and in 1942 band members, including Glenn Miller, were drafted into service.
Not holding him back though, he would carry on his orchestra leadership and the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band, which he had put together for the troops, were posted to England and ended up making around 500 broadcasts and 300 live performances.
Tragically Glenn Miller’s plane would disappear on 15th December 1944 while on his way to Paris, while organising a concert tour, but the band continued to perform without him for another six months.
There were many attempts to recreate the sound that had become instantly recognisable, but it wasn’t until 1956 that Ray McKinley, who had been a member of Miller’s Orchestra throughout the war years and performed with previously on occasion, formed yet another new version of the orchestra and he would remain their leader from 1956 to 1966.
From that time on they have continued to deliver Glenn Miller’s sound worldwide under leaders that include Buddy DeFranco, Peanuts Hucko and Dick Gerhart. Artists that have appeared with the orchestra include Bing Crosby, Dinah Shore and many others.
Leroy Anderson recordings
Sleigh Ride
Laser Light 15 418 (CD: In the Christmas Mood)
Sources:
- http://www.glennmillerorchestra.com/history.html
- http://www.glennmillerorchestra.com/photo-gallery-Ray_McKinley.html
- http://www.glennmillerorchestra.com/former_leaders.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Miller_Orchestra
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Miller
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/335671-Glenn-Miller-And-His-Orchestra
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/276034-The-Glenn-Miller-Orchestra
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-glenn-miller-orchestra-mn0000948768