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| | + | '''Gordon Beneke''', better known as '''Tex Beneke''', was a saxophonist in the [[Glenn Miller]] orchestra,<ref>http://glennmillerorchestra.com/tex-beneke/</ref> known for his role in songs such as [[Chattanooga Choo Choo|"Chattanooga Choo Choo."]] |
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| | + | ==Life== |
| | + | Tex was born February 12, 1914 in Fort Worth, [[Texas]], as Gordon Beneke. He performed in several local bands as well as the Metronome All-Stars, a group formed from polls issued by Metronome magazine. While performing in the Ben Young band, drummer Gene Krupa (who had recently left [[Benny Goodman]]) discovered Tex and, having already filled his own saxophone section, recommended Tex to [[Glenn Miller]]. |
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| | + | Tex spent 4 years with Miller before Miller's joining the [[Armed Forces]] and breaking up the group. During [[World War Two]], Tex toured with a group called the Modernaires. After World War Two, when the Glenn Miller Orchestra was recreated (though Glenn Miller was [[missing in action]]). Tex quit in 1950 after disputed with Miller's estate and formed his own group, causing him to be left out of the movie ''The Glenn Miller Story''. |
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| | + | Beneke died on May 30, 2000 in Costa Mesa, California.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/01/arts/tex-beneke-86-saxophonist-who-sang-miller-s-hits-dies.html</ref> |
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| | + | ==Songs== |
| | + | From the Glenn Miller Years: |
| | + | *"String of Pearls" |
| | + | *"I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo" |
| | + | *"Chattanooga Choo Choo" |
| | + | *"In the Mood" |
| | + | *"Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" |
| | + | *"Perfidia" |
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| | + | ==References== |
| | + | {{reflist}} |
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| | + | {{DEFAULTSORT:Beneke, Tex}} |
| | + | [[Category:Musicians]] |