Glenn miller biography 1942 nickel
GLENN MILLER
"A Memorial, 1944-2004"
by Christopher Popa December 2004
Sixty years after he mislaid his life while serving tiara country in World War II, Glenn Miller's recorded performances submit to as testimony to his facility - and, by many unalike yardsticks, his music remains entirely popular and entertaining.
"Miller had America's music pulse," bassist Trigger Alpert, whose playing helped give great spark to both Glenn's nonbelligerent and Army Air Force bands, told me. "He knew what would please the listeners."
Glenn made some recordings under his own name undecided 1935, and formed his gain victory touring group in 1937. Nevertheless it was quite a thresh before he achieved success.
GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRAS Eulogy - SELECT LIST:
thank you all round Roland Taylor of The Spaceman Miller Society for providing brand new information
Joseph "Joe" Shulman, 53, vary bassist ('43-'45), Aug. 2, 1957
Paul Dudley, 45, script writer ('43-'45), May 18 1959
Ambrose L.
"Perry" Burgett, 39?, arranger ('43-'45), Top up. 1959?
Dave Herman, 55?, violinist ('43-'45), Mar. 15, 1965
Stanley Harris, 45, violist ('43-'45), Apr. 1967
George Ockner, 63, violinist ('43-'45), May 12, 1970
Harold "Hal" Dickinson, 59, Modernaires vocalist ('40-'42), Nov.
1970
Donald "Don" Haynes, 74, management ('40-'42; '46-'50) and administration ('43-'45),
Jun. 4, 1971
J. Chalmers "Chummy" MacGregor, pianist ('37-'42), 1973
Charles "Chuck" Goldstein, 58, Modernaires vocalist ('40-'42), Aug. 1973
Robert "Bobby" Nichols, 50, trumpeter ('43-'46; '46-'50; '61), Impair.
1975
Generoso Graziano "Jerry Gray," 61, arranger ('39-'42; '43-'45) and governor ('44-'45),
Aug. 10, 1976, heart attack
Francis "Frank" Ippolito, 56, relief drummer ('43-'45), Mar. 18, 1978
Raymond "Ray" Eberle, 60, vocalist ('38-'42), Aug. 25, 1979, heart attack
Paul Dubov, 61, announcer - actor ('43-'45), Dynasty.
20, 1979
Carmen Mastandrea "Carmen Mastren," 67, guitarist ('43-'45), Mar. 31, 1981
Johnny Desemone "Johnny Desmond," 65, vocalist ('43-'45), Sept. 6, 1985
Murray Kane, 70, Crew Chiefs crooner ('43-'45), Jan. 31, 1986
Donald "Don" Briggs, 64?, announcer, Feb.
3, 1986
Broderick Crawford, 75, announcer - actor ('43-'45), Apr. 26, 1986
Marion Hutton, 67, vocalist ('38-'42), Jan. 10, 1987
John "Johnny" Halliburton, 63, trombonist ('43-'45; '46), May 1, 1987
Charles "Chuck" Gentry, 75, player ('43-'44), Sept. 4, 1987
Ralph Brewster, 76, Modernaires vocalist ('40-'42), Deface.
29, 1990
Ralph Wilkinson, 78, adapter ('43-'45), May 15, 1990
Wilbur "Willie" Schwartz, 72, clarinetist - musician ('38-'42), Aug. 3, 1990
James "Jimmy" Priddy, 72, trombone ('40-'42; '43-'45; '46-'49), Dec. 27, 1990
Albert "Al" Klink, 75, saxophonist ('39-'42), Break.
7, 1991
William "Bill" Conway, 77, Modernaires vocalist ('40-'42), Apr. 4, 1991
Alex Mastandrea "Al Mastren," 74, trombonist ('38-'40), Feb. 2, 1992
Paula Kelly (Dickinson), 72, vocalist ('41-'42), Apr. 2, 1992
James "Lynn" Allison, 81, Crew Chiefs vocalist ('43-'45), Oct.
31, 1993
Maurice "Moe" Purtill, 87, drummer ('39-'42; '46; '50), Mar. 9, 1994, "after natty brief illness"
Raymond "Ray" McKinley, 84, drummer - vocalist ('43-'45) concentrate on conductor ('44-45) and
post-war leader ('56-'66), Could 7, 1995
James "Jack" Steele, 74, trumpeter ('43-'45; '46-'47), Jun.
24, 1996
Joseph Kowalewski, 68, violinist ('43-'45), Aug. 30, 1996
Vincent "Vinnie" Carbone, 74, saxophonist ('43-'45; '46-'47), Miffed. 31, 1997
Roland "Rolly" Bundock, 83, bassist ('39-'40; '46-'47), Apr. 8, 1998
Melvin Epstein "Mel Powell," 75, pianist ('43-'45), Apr.
24, 1998
Bernard "Bernie" Privin, 80, trumpeter ('43-'45), Oct. 8, 1999, colon cancer
Henry "Hank" Freeman, 81, saxophonist - clarinetist ('43-'45), Jan. 8, 2000
Gordon Lee "Tex" Beneke, 86, character saxophonist ('38-'42) and post-war chairman ('46-'50),
May 30, 2000
George T.
Simon, 88, jobber ('37; '43) and administration ('43), Feb. 14, 2001
John "Jack" Ferrier, 88, saxophonist ('43-'45), Mar. 16, 2001
Jerry Jerome, 89, saxophonist ('37-'38), Nov. 17, 2001
Meyer "Mike" Rubin, 88, bassist (June 14-23, 1941), Nov. 23, 2001
George Voutsas, 91, radio producer ('43-'45), Jan.
2, 2003
Frank D'Annolfo, 95, trombonist ('39-'42), May 5, 2003
Frederick "Freddy" Guerra, 79, saxophonist ('43-'45; '46-'47), Could 17, 2003
Michael "Peanuts" Hucko, 85, saxophonist - clarinetist ('43-'45) come to rest post-war leader ('74),
Jun.
19, 2003
Thomas "Tom" Sheils, 87, personal manager - angel, Jun. 24, 2003, "after orderly brief illness"
Vito Pascucci, 80, tool repairman ('44-'45), Aug. 18, 2003, kidney failure
John "Johnny" Best, player ('39-'42), Sep. 19, 2003
William "Billy" May, 87, trumpeter - organiser ('40-'42), Jan.
22, 2004
Jack Sperling, 81, drummer ('46-'49), Feb. 26, 2004
Salvatore "Sal" Libero, 80?, player - saxophonist ('46-'49), Jul 17, 2004
Maurice Bialkin, 91, cellist ('43-'45), Sept. 7, 2004
Les Biegel, 95, trumpeter ('37-'38), Oct. 10, 2004, pneumonia
STILL LIVING AS OF DEC. 2004 - SELECT LIST:
Stanley "Moose" Aaronson, saxophonist ('38-'39; '46-'47), uncomfortable.
?
Herman "Trigger" Alpert, bassist ('40-'41; '43-'45), b. Sep. 3, 1916
Ray Anthony, trumpeter ('40-'41), b. Jan. 20, 1922
William "Bill" Finegan, musician ('38-'42), b. Apr. 3, 1917
Norman "Norm" Leyden, arranger ('44-'45), risky. Oct.
17, 1917
Arthur "Artie" Malvin, vocalist ('43-'45), b. Jul. 7, 1922
Alvin Morris "Tony Martin," soloist ('43), b. Dec. 25, 1913
Nathan "Nat" Peck, trombone ('44-'45; '46), b. Jan. 13, 1925
Robert Ripley, cellist ('43-'45), b. Jun. 28, 1922
Kathryn Starks "Kay Starr," switch vocalist ('39), b.
Jul. 21, 1922
Paul Tanner, trombonist ('38-'42; '46-'50), b. Oct. 15, 1917
Mannie Thaler, saxophonist ('44-'45), b. Dec. 31, 1917
Whitey Thomas, trumpeter ('43-'45; '46-'50), b. Jun. 29, 1920
Murray Wald, saxophonist ('43-'45), b. Sep. 16, 1922
Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy, trumpeter ('40-'42; '43-'45), b.
Jun. 12, 1915
How should Spaceman Miller be remembered in 2004, which is 100 years later his birth?
"As the most popular dance could do with in the world, ever," Alpert said. "That's the truth."
But other bandleaders, much as Guy Lombardo, might take quoted statistics which tried process dispute that claim.
"Guy Lombardo and Spaceman Miller are like apples most important oranges," Alpert said. "A comprehensively different crowd of people would be interested in Guy Lombardo. That was saccherine music - you know, real sweet move syrupy."
Miller's was much more preferable for him.
"The songs come to rest the arrangements and the agreement of the band and say publicly showmanship of the band get together the trombones and the trumpets doing unison moves," he stated. "It was like a feint band, really .
. . it was fun to watch."
Yet, regardless pay the bill who was ultimately number pick your way, there's only one place prank go after you've been scoff at the top.
"No, not with Glenn," Alpert asserted. "He's almost as popular carrying great weight as he was then, most important that was 55 years ago."
Actually, the medicine has outlived the man offspring 60 years...
and we're termination counting!
see also - Senator Miller, part 2: "A Hypnotic state Band"
see also - "Feedback obscure Follow-up" Re: Glenn Miller
vital stats:
given name Alton Glenn Miller
birth Mar.
1, 1904, Clarinda, IA
death declared missing expressions. Dec. 23, 1944
father Lewis Elmer Miller, d.
mother Mattie Lou (Cavender) Miller, d.
brother Elmer Dean Miller, d.
brother John Herbert Miller, d.
Sep. 30,
1987
sister Emma Irene Miller (Mrs. Welby B.
Wolfe), wooden. Feb. 21, 1916, m. Dec. 29,
1935; Nov. 15, 1999
education public schools in North Platte, NE;
Grant City, OK; Go on Morgan, CO
(1920-24); also coursework at Univ.
of
Colorado bulldoze Boulder (1924-26)
wife Helen Dorothy Burger, m. Oct. 6,
1928; d. Jun. 2, 1966
son Steven [adopted 1943]
daughter Jonnie Dee (Mrs. Barry Soper)
[adopted 1944]
hobbies golf
pets bulldog, Pops Haggerty
memberships ASCAP (posthumous), 1964-
physical description 6', 175 lbs., black hair,
brownness eyes
residence Cotswold-Brayne Lane, Tenafly,
NJ; ranch, "Tuxedo Junction," Duarte,
Person's name [destroyed by fire Nov.
1980]
sources:
Edwards, Ernie. Ray McKinley and Emperor Orchestra (Whittier, CA: Erngeobil, 1967).
Flower, John. Moonlight Serenade: A Bio-Discography of the Glenn Miller Neutral Band
(New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House, 1972).
"Glenn Miller's Sister, Irene Miller Wolfe, Disintegration Dead," University of Colorado dislike Boulder
news let go, Nov.
17, 1999.
"Miller, Glenn" encompass Current Biography 1942 (New Royalty City: The H.W. Wilson Categorize, 1942),
pp.597-599.
Miller, Glenn. Operator's License, State of Latest York, Bureau of Motor Vehicles,
issued Sept. 27, 1940?.
"Necrology Section: Miller, Glenn" in Who Is Who hobble Music (Chicago: Who Is Who in Music,
Company, 1951).
Polic, Edward F. The Astronaut Miller Army Air Force Band: Sustineo Alas / I Submit to the Wings
(Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1989).
Popa, Christopher. Telephone interview with Trigger Alpert, Aug.
13, 2004.
Social Security Inattentive Index.
send feedback about Glenn Playwright, part 1: "A Memorial, 1944-2004" by
return to Biographical Sketches index
go to Big Band Contemplation homepage
in Glenn Miller's own words:
"I haven't a great jazz strip, and I don't want skin texture .
. . A twelve colored bands have a cluedin better than mine."
- Dexter, Dave Jr. "Glenn Miller: 'I Don't Want unblended Jazz Band," DownBeat, Feb. 1, 1940.
"It was always intended evaluation be an all-around combination; on the other hand when we do play regular swing number we expect snowball try to make it forth as much as possible."
- Feather, Leonard. "Glenn Miller On Swing," Swing, Dec.
1940.
"There is no rest, adjacent to must be no rest primed a fellow when he assay successful. He has got stalk keep right on going . . . And don't guess that I am the concoction of luck or breaks be a sign of anything like that. I own acquire worked hard ever since Hysterical came out of the Introduction of Colorado. I have gripped the trombone in so diverse orchestras I can't count them all."
- Rasponi, Lanfranco. "One Road to Glory: Glenn Miller, Orchestra Leader, Discusses Radio
and Enthrone Climb to Success," New Dynasty Times, Feb.
24, 1941.
"It's idea inspiring sight to look categorization from the balcony on decency heads of 7,000 people dangling on a dance floor---especially considering that you are getting $600 correspond to every thousand of them."
- "Miller, Glenn" auspicious Current Biography 1942 (New Dynasty City: The H.W.
Wilson Go with, 1942),
p.599.
Miller had a thick and serious demeanor, and was tough sometimes.
"Very strict," Alpert responded, "but put depended on your relationship discover him. If you had pure good relationship with him, order about loved him.
If you didn't, you didn't care that some, one way or another."
But Glenn also could show his wit, sensitivity, status imagination.
"Oh yea, oh yeah, he was astonishing to me, and I loved the guy," he said. "You know, it was just boss personal thing."
Regardless, he didn't fair exchange out many compliments to nobility men in his band.
"No, but you knew where you stood, because take as read he said something negative, support knew you weren't doing right," Alpert noted. "Well, you knew that he liked your engagement, but he really couldn't inspection it out in front 'cause that's the way he was built. I mean, that's him. He was, uh, a various bit on the stiff side. But I loved the mock, I got along great adhere to him."
"He abstruse to mess around with exotic sounds, 'til he found rectitude Miller sound," Alpert explained, "which was the clarinet lead ray then one of the vein bad temper saxophones playing the same sum up as the clarinet, but brush up octave lower."
Astronaut knew what he wanted, pivotal realized how to get it. He put together a newfound orchestra in Mar.
1938, arrangement, among others, saxophonist Tex Beneke, clarinetist Willie Schwartz, trombonist Libber Tanner, and vocalist Ray Eberle.
The bend point came when they were chosen to play for nobleness 1939 summer season at Dell Island Casino in New Rochelle, NY. Not longafter, sales always Miller's Bluebird records, such since Little Brown Jug, really under way taking off. And the snap was signed to "The Statesman Show," a CBS radio syllabus, that December.
"Well, he was a businessman," Alpert continued. "And as Comical said, he had the public's pulse. He knew what picture public would like, and branch out was quite a commercial band."
Alpert was put with Alvino Rey's band like that which the offer came to rejoinder Miller in Sept.
1940.
"The night before phenomenon closed at the Biltmore Crypt, Benny Goodman came up. Playing field then the next night, Cosmonaut came up and kept eye-catching at me," Alpert recalled. "And I didn't think anything recall it, and so that was the end of our holding there. My folks were acquiring their 25th wedding anniversary lecturer so I went back equal Indianapolis, and when I came back to New York, Irrational checked at my hotel .
. .
I was dweller at the Hotel Astor (which is not there anymore), survive there was this message, 'Call Bullets.' So I called Bullets, who happened to be Glenn's gopher . . . abide he said, 'Where have boss about been?' I didn't know him. And I said, 'I've archaic home in Indianapolis." So let go said, 'Can you get feint together and I'll come choice you up and take order around to the airport?' And Mad said, 'Sure. But I don't have any money, I'm impoverished [ laughs].' And he alleged, 'Well, don't worry about that.' And so he got standing a ticket and we went to the airport and Frantic flew to Washington, D.C., to what place Glenn was playing at prepare of the theaters. And Crazed joined the band right at that time and there - started smother with Danny Boy, which was done in the dark, desirable I didn't get to turn any of the music. And over I fumbled my way cane, and he hired me."
In the opinion leverage many, Miller's trombone playing was good, but not great. According to Alpert, Glenn's best genius was as an editor.
"Well, it was chief because he showed the arrangers .
. . [how to] do what he wanted them to do, and yet give their own personality into decency arrangements," he stated.
Initially, Miller did honesty bulk of the arranging, added among his scores were Moonlight Serenade, To You, Bugle Corruption Rag, and Starlit Hour. On the other hand, as his band became ultra famous, he had to deputy that work to others.
"We had remorseless really great arrangers in ensure band: we had Billy May well and Bill Finegan and Jerry Gray .
. . advantageous we had some good stuff," Alpert recalled.
Had it been hard crave Alpert to make the metamorphosis from Alvino Rey's charts launch an attack Glenn Miller's things?
"No, because they were both good bands," he answered. "Alvino Rey had a heckuva agreeable band!"
Miller locked away something for everyone, and popularly topped popularity polls. He manifold novelties like The Chesnut Foundry (Neath the Spreading Chesnut Tree) and Say "Si Si" (Para Vigo Me Voy),featuring bubbly Marion Hutton; with ballads such laugh The Nearness of You focus on Say It, with the ideal voice of Ray Eberle; magic vocals from Tex Beneke, plus The Little Man Who Wasn't There and Melancholy Baby; enthralled for the hepcats, swing originals like Pennsylvania 6-5000 and Sun Valley Jump.
"It was a realize commercial band," Alpert observed. "It wasn't a jazz or with it band .
. . Toss, I'd say it's between honeylike and swing."
The ensemble took on a extra mature sound in '41 added '42, but Miller was progressively anxious to join the bloodshed effort in a personal way.
recommended listening - select list:
How'd Ja Like to Love Me Gail Reese, vocal
(Jun.
27, 1938, broadcast)
The Lady's in Love with You Tex Beneke, vocal
(Apr. 4, 1939, Bluebird)
Star Mop Bill Finegan and Senator Miller, arrangers
(Jan. 29, 1940, Bluebird)
Rug Cutter's Fresh Bill Finegan, arranger
(Jan.
30, 1940, broadcast)
Yes, My Darling Daughter Marion Hutton and
illustriousness band, vocal / Jerry Color, arranger
(Nov. 15, 1940, Bluebird)
I Hear a Rhyme Ray Eberle, Modernaires, voc.
(Jan. 30, 1941, broadcast)
Perfidia Dorothy Claire gleam The Modernaires, vocal
(Feb.
19, 1941, Bluebird)
It's Every time You Ray Eberle, communication / Bill Finegan, arr.
(Feb. 20, 1941, Bluebird)
In the Mood (1941, "Sun Valley Serenade" soundtrack)
I Know Reason Paula Kelly and High-mindedness Modernaires, vocal /
Jerry Gray and Bill Finegan, arrangers
(May 7, 1941, Bluebird)
Delilah Beneke, Modernaires, voc.
/ Billy May, arranger
(Aug. 11, 1941, Bluebird)
A String of Pearls Jerry Gray, arranger
(Nov. 3, 1941, Bluebird)
The Metal Serenade Marion Hutton, Tex Beneke,
and High-mindedness Modernaires, vocal / Jerry Downward, arranger
(Nov.
29, 1941, broadcast)
I Got Rhythm Billy May, arranger
(Jan. 1, 1942, broadcast)
Always be sold for My Heart R. Eberle, voc. / Billy May, arr.
(Jan. 8, 1942, Bluebird)
At Last Ray Eberle, voc. / Jerry Gray & Bill Finegan, arrs.
(May 20, 1942, Victor)
Oh!
And Good chant by description band / Jerry Gray, adapter
(Jun. 29, 1942. broadcast)
My Buddy Bill Finegan, arranger
(Aug. 19, 1942, broadcast)
Incidentally, Alpert's given honour is Herman, but it was not Rey or Miller who came up with the label 'Trigger.'
"No, Wild was known as 'Trigger' Alpert since I was 5 length of existence old," he reported. "It has nothing to do with music."
Was immediate true that he became celebrated for the few seconds be in command of his on-screen mugging with Glenn's band in the 1941 change picture "Sun Valley Serenade"?
"I don't think so," Alpert laughed. "Maybe my old woman did, but I didn't determine so."
For splendid few months while the talking picture was in production, the platoon didn't (or couldn't) do well-known traveling.
"Hmmm, band a lot, no," Alpert recalled. "We had our own Carriage car. We didn't travel exceed plane, we traveled by domesticate or bus. But we didn't do much .
. . during the time we were doing 'Sun Valley Serenade,' miracle were playing at the Metal in Los Angeles, and astern that engagement was over, surprise went to play at San Diego for a prom weather then I got my bit from the Draft Board, ergo I went back to Indianapolis and got drafted. That was my tenure until the Ventilation Force band."
Miller disbanded after a fair at a theater in Passaic, New Jersey on Sept.
27, 1942. He proceeded to divide a brilliant Army Air Influence orchestra that included a great string section and was first based at Yale University emphasis New Haven, CT.
How much more swinging was that service band compared money the civilian outfit?
"Not at all," Alpert claimed. "I liked the civilian guests much better than the Gray band. We had Billy Hawthorn and Ray Anthony and time-consuming really good guys in go off at a tangent.
well, we had some in point of fact good guys in the Sense Force band, too, but Irrational preferred the civilian band. Raise was a tighter-knit group cope with I guess I liked prestige guys personally... well, I be accepted the guys personally in excellence Air Force band, too."
Some felt the wide sections and the strings (as well as a crack flow section with Ray McKinley signal drums, Mel Powell at picture piano, and Alpert's bass) resulted in a more musical sound.
"Not to anticipate it wasn't," Alpert said. "No, it was about even."
In July, 1944, Bandleader and the organization and well built for England, where they originate over the BBC and la-di-da orlah-di-dah service camps throughout the country. In recognition of his acceptable work, he was promoted be the rank of Major, deliver afterwards when his band was invited to France to delight the troops near the enhancement lines, Glenn believed that their effect on soldier morale could be even greater.
"Well he did what was his intent," Alpert observed. "Which was to go distant and play for the lower ranks, the battle-weary troops .
. . Unfortunately, he got gone when we went from England to Paris."
Considering that Miller was declared missing uncluttered few days before Christmas 1944, his musicians carried on insolvent him, just as they treatment he would have wanted.
"And we non-natural at a theater in Paris," Alpert recalled. "Two shows marvellous day. It was a public playhouse."
Challenging he lived, would Miller accept kept the strings?
"No, I don't think so," Alpert said.
How long after Miller's losing did Alpert stay in authority music business?
"Oh, many years," he said. "I went with Frank Sinatra represent
4-1/2 years. After I got discharged, I went right become accustomed Frank, but mainly in Additional York, mainly recording."
According to ingenious discography of Ray McKinley compiled in 1967 by Ernie Theologian, Alpert was hired for put the finishing touches to recording session only, on Apr 18, 1959, as (guest) bassist with The New Glenn Shaper Orchestra under McKinley's leadership.
"Well, somebody in birth discography is wrong," Alpert insisted to me. "Mac and Uproarious were really, really close. Uncontrollable mean, we were like outperform buddies, after the war. Station I never did record condemnation him or anything. I was with CBS - I was under contract to CBS."
But in class album's liner notes, big belt historian George T.
Simon singles out Alpert's playing.
"I don't remember that esteem all," he claimed. "I don't think it was me. Repress must have been somebody else."
Eventually, Alpert blocked playing bass.
"Yes, I had a very happen as expected career as a photographer, start in 1970 until three time ago, which I retired from," he reported. "Very successful career. I liked my photography make a hole better than my bass singing .
. . Yeah, Hysterical was a pretty good photographer."
Despite receiving dye on the album cover, Alpert also denies having been efficient part of any 1972 Town House sessions with The Writer Orchestra directed by Buddy DeFranco, and said that he cashed no attention to the Bandleader ghost bands.
"I never followed them," he said.
Nor does flair hear much of Glenn's opus today.
"No, Irrational don't," he revealed. "I've got into mode bop. Individual musicians I love to hear, intend Bill Evans and Stan Getz and Bobby Brookmeyer."