THE WORLD FAMOUS

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

…Glenn Miller Orchestra Swings Into Well Spring on Wednesday, June 3 2020 at 7:30 pm.

The first Glenn Miller Orchestra did not make it at all. It was a total and absolute economic

failure. But Glenn knew what he wanted, held to that dedication and relentlessly worked to

succeed. He launched his second band – the one that lives on today – in March of 1938. The

Glenn Miller Orchestra has been a “hit” ever since.

The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all dance bandleaders back in the

Swing Era of the 1930’s and 40’s. A matchless string of hit records, the constant impact of radio

broadcasts and the drawing power at theatres, hotels and dance pavilion, built and sustained the

momentum of popularity.

Glenn disbanded his musical organization in 1942 at the height of its popularity to volunteer for

the Army. There, he organized and led the famous Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. It

went to Europe to entertain servicemen performing numerous live and radio shows. On

December 15, 1944, Major Miller took off in a single engine plane from Europe to precede his

band to France, disappearing over the English Channel, never to be seen again. The army

declared him officially dead a year later.

With the release of the major motion movie The Glenn Miller Story featuring Jimmy Stewart

and June Allyson in 1954, interest and popular demand led the Miller Estate to authorize the

formation of the present Glenn Miller Orchestra. On June 6, 1956, and under the direction of

drummer Ray McKinley who had become the unofficial leader of the Army Air Force Band after

Glenn’s disappearance, the reformed Glenn Miller Orchestra performed its first concert and has

been on the road ever since. Other leaders have followed Ray including clarinetists Buddy

DeFranco and Peanuts Hucko, trombonists Buddy Morrow, Jimmy Henderson, Larry O’Brien

and Gary Tole, and tenor saxophonist Dick Gerhart. Since January 2012, vocalist Nick Hilscher

leads the band.

Today, the 18 member ensemble continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements both

from the civilian band and the AAFB libraries. Additionally, it also plays some more modern

selections arranged and performed in the Miller style and sound.

Just as it was in Glenn’s day, the Glenn Miller Orchestra today is still the most sought after big

band in the world.