2010-03-04

Wanna swing? Then Glenn Miller’s gonna be your thing

By Judith Pannebaker

Legendary bandleader Glenn Miller once noted his favorite quotation came not from the Bible, but from the great Duke Ellington, who said, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!”

That should give everyone a hint about the caliber of entertainment to expect when the Bandera High School Performing Arts Theatre – aka auditorium – will be transformed for a spectacular “Evening with the Glenn Miller Orchestra,” beginning at 7 pm, Saturday, March 7.

The Purple Sage Guest Ranch and Conference Center will sponsor “An Evening with Glenn Miller” as a fundraiser for the Bandera Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund. Tickets cost $20 each and are available online at TicketDerby.com by clicking on “Bandera.” For the cyberspace-challenged, tickets can also be purchased at Shoe Biz, 301 Main Street. Telephone is 830-796-8302.

For both concert and swing dance engagements, the Glenn Miller Orchestra has become the most popular and sought after big band in the world today. In fact, thanks to its illustrious namesake, the orchestra is still considered one of the greatest bands of all time.

Those of a certain age will remember Miller’s string of hits in the 1930s and ‘40s, which included “Tuxedo Junction,” “Moonlight Serenade,” “American Patrol,” “A String of Pearls” and “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” among others.

Miller was easily one of the most successful of all the dance bandleaders in the Swing Era. Ongoing radio broadcasts and non-stop appearances at theaters, hotels and dance pavilions contributed to and sustained Miller’s fame.

However, at the height of his popularity in 1942, Miller disbanded his musical organization, volunteered for the United States Army and organized the famous Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band to entertain troops in Europe.

On Dec. 15, 1944, Miller – who had, by this time, wangled the rank of major – took off in a single-engine plane from England, preceding his band to France. Miller never made it and his plane was long presumed lost over the English Channel. A year later, Army brass declared him officially dead.

Interestingly, the website http://www.militarycorruption.com/ offers another take on Miller’s disappearance. Created by retired US Army Maj. Glenn MacDonald, the website brings to light a claim that Miller was on a mission for Gen. Dwight Eisenhower that might have helped bring a quicker end to World War II.

According to MacDonald, an elderly, but still alert, retired officer on Gen. Omar Bradley’s staff, Lt. Col. Hunton Downs, spoke to MilitaryCorruption.com about the facts of the case.

“This respected officer has spent 60 of his 90-plus years of life following the trail; gaining access to OSS-CIA files on Miller; US and German documents long hidden away on the case; relentlessly chasing down leads; and now, the military investigator believes he has ‘solved the final mystery’ of what really happened to Glenn Miller,” MacDonald reported.

For the full story, visit http://www.militarycorruption.com/, click on “Search the Site” on the left side of the homepage and type in “Glenn Miller.” “The rest of the story” makes for a great read.

The reconstituted 19-member band continues to play many of original Miller arrangements. They also approach modern selections in the big-band style, carefully selecting only contemporary tunes that naturally lend themselves to the Miller sound and style. The entire repertoire of the Glenn Miller Orchestra now exceeds 1,700 compositions – and averages 300 live dates annually across the globe. Trombonist Larry O’Brien serves as the orchestra’s present musical director.

So, those “In the Mood” for great entertainment this Saturday should not miss this performance. Don your “String of Pearls” and be there – or be square.

For more information on “An Evening with the Glenn Miller Orchestra,” visit www.banderacommunityfoundation.org or call 830-796-4447 or 800-364-3833.