Glenn Miller

Alton Glenn Miller was born in Clarinda, Iowa on March 1, 1904. He started his musical career when his father brought home a mandolin. As soon as possible, he traded the instrument for an old horn, which he practiced diligently.

During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Miller managed to earn a living working as a freelance trombonist in several bands. His first band was formed in 1937 but failed to distinguish itself and eventually broke up.

Following the break-up of his first band, Miller realized that he needed to develop a unique sound, and decided to make the clarinet play a melodic line with a tenor saxophone on the same note, while three other saxophones harmonized. With this sound combination, the Miller band that became the most popular was born in 1938. After a shaky start, it made his new band a nationwide hit.

In 1942, Miller joined the United States Army Air Forces where he continued his musical career with the Army Air Force Band.

Glenn Miller died in a plane crash on his way from the United Kingdom to Paris on December 15, 1944. His music is still iconic of the time period in which he lived and continues to draw thousands of fans of all age groups.