THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
Glenn Miller himself was a trombone player around the time of World War II. Miller, along with his band had more hit records in a single year than any other musical group in history, including Elvis and the Beatles. He willingly enlisted in the Army Air Corps before the draft. Unfortunately, the aircraft he was piloting was shot down over the English Channel in 1944 and he died. Despite his ephemeral time in the spotlight, his music lives on.
The night of Wednesday, August 9, Glenn Miller’s influence in contemporary culture was proved, as the orchestra performed in front of a full house, young and old alike. They played tunes such as, “Blue Champagne,” “Danny Boy,” and the ever-popular, “In the Mood.”
One especially memorable moment during the show was the band’s dedication to the American veterans. To the tune of “Anchors Away” stood the hundreds of veterans who have seen wars unimaginable to our high-tech society. At the conductor’s request, nearly half the crowd rose like a wave of nostalgia, veterans from World War I, the Korean War, Desert Storm, and many others.
One cannot help but wonder how many generations beyond the current will the spirit of Glenn Miller, Sir Duke Ellington, and Tommy Dorsey live on? Surely much longer than the fleeting trends of today’s culture. One was forced to park a half-mile away from the theater in the grass just to see a Jazz cover band playing music from more than half a century ago. Dedication like that runs much deeper than catchy tunes.
As for the orchestra itself, I would say they captured the spirit of the “good ol’ days.” The singers, despite their talent, fell a bit short of creating the right atmosphere. The Glenn Miller Orchestra’s next stop was Vancouver, Canada and their return awaits with much anticipation to Foellinger Theatre.
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