| | '''Alton Glenn Miller''' (1904-1944) was an [[American]] [[Big Band]] leader and trombonist who achieved celebrity in the 1930s and early 40s and died when the military aircraft on which he was travelling disappeared on 15 December 1944. | | '''Alton Glenn Miller''' (1904-1944) was an [[American]] [[Big Band]] leader and trombonist who achieved celebrity in the 1930s and early 40s and died when the military aircraft on which he was travelling disappeared on 15 December 1944. |
| − | Miller was born in [[Iowa]] but his family moved around the Mid-West and he was living in [[Missouri]] when he obtained his first trombone and became interested in dance music while at high school and then college in [[Colorado]]. He abandoned college to become a professional musician, touring with several bands, and working as a freelance trombonist and session musician, before forming his first band in 1937. A reformed band concentrated on a tight harmonic sound of clarinets and saxophones, and had major hits such as "Tuxedo Junction" and "[[Chattanooga Choo Choo]]". | + | Miller was born in [[Iowa]] but his family moved around the [[Midwest]] and he was living in [[Missouri]] when he obtained his first trombone and became interested in dance music while at high school and then college in [[Colorado]]. He abandoned college to become a professional musician, touring with several bands, and working as a freelance trombonist and session musician, before forming his first band in 1937. A reformed band concentrated on a tight harmonic sound of clarinets and saxophones, and had major hits such as "Tuxedo Junction" and "[[Chattanooga Choo Choo]]". |
| − | Although over-age for conscription, Miller volunteered for military service in 1942. Rejected by the navy, he joined the army as a musician and formed the Army Air Force Orchestra, whose arrangements, such as the ''St Louis Blues March'', raised eyebrows amongst military music purists. On 15 December 1944 Miller, by now a major, was due to fly to [[Paris]] to play for US troops in the liberated city. His aircraft never arrived, and the exact circumstances of his death have never been established. | + | Although overage for conscription, Miller volunteered for military service in 1942. Rejected by the [[Navy]], he joined the [[Army]] as a musician and formed the Army Air Force Orchestra, whose arrangements, such as the ''St Louis Blues March'', raised eyebrows amongst military music purists. On December 15, 1944 Miller, by now a major, was due to fly to [[Paris]] to play for U.S. troops in the liberated city. His aircraft never arrived, and the exact circumstances of his death have never been established. His body was never found. |
| | + | {{cquote|I thought I had swell ideas, and wonderful musicians, but the [[hell]] of it, no one else did.<ref>https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/glenn-miller-quotes</ref>}} |