
With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time. The present Glenn Miller Orchestra was formed in 1956 and has been touring consistently since, playing an average of 300 live dates a year all around the world. Trombonist Larry O'Brien is the orchestra's present musical director. The World Famous, Glenn Miller Orchestra, is the most popular and sought after big band in the world today for both concert and swing dance engagements.
Alton Glenn Miller was born in Clarinda, Iowa on March 1, 1904. He toured with several orchestras and ended-up in Los Angeles, where he landed a spot in Ben Pollack's group, a band that included Benny Goodman. Here, Miller also got the chance to write some of his own arrangements.
Miller played and recorded with Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, who featured an up-and coming Bing Crosby on some of their records. Miller also worked with Gene Krupa, Eddie Condon and Coleman Hawkins. During that time, Glenn recorded 18 times for Goodman, and also worked for radio studio conductors like Victor Young, Carl Fenton and Jacques Renard. In 1934, Miller became the musical director of the Dorsey Band, and later went on to organize The Ray Noble Orchestra.
In April 1935, Glenn Miller recorded under his own name for the first time. In 1937, Glenn Miller stepped out to form his own band. There were a few recordings -- one for Decca and one for Brunswick. The band performed for a couple of week-long stints in New Orleans and Dallas, and many one-night performances.
In 1938, the second Glenn Miller Orchestra soon began breaking attendance records all up and down the East Coast. At the New York State Fair in Syracuse, the band attracted the largest dancing crowd in the city's history. In 1941, it was off to Hollywood where the band worked on its first movie, Sun Valley Serenade, which introduced the song -- and soon-to-be million selling record -- "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and featured the Modernaires and the Nicholas Brothers.
Ticket Information:
Tickets are $30, $22.50 and $19.50 plus fees. Group Discounts available. Click Buy Tickets at the top of this page, or purchase via phone at (570) 826-1100. Tickets are also available at the F.M. Kirby Center Box Office, 71 Public Square, ticketmaster.com and Gallery of Sound stores.