The Artist Series Presents the Glenn Miller Orchestra, 4/5

Formed by popular demand in 1956, the Glenn Miller Orchestra has been touring consistently, playing an average of 300 live dates a year around the globe to millions of fans.  Led by musical director Nick Hilscher, the band remains devoted to the Miller sound, interpreting such standards as "String of Pearls," "Tuxedo Junction," "Little Brown Jug," and of course "Pennsylvania 6-5000."

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.  With its unique jazz sound, The Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time. 

The Glenn Miller Orchestra plays at the Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts on Florida State College at Jacksonville's South Campus (11901 Beach Blvd.) on Thursday, April 5^th at 7:30PM for one performance only!  Tickets are $38.50. Discounts are available for groups of 10+ by calling (904) 632-3228 or groupsales@fscj.edu. 

"A band ought to have a sound all of its own.  It ought to have a personality." - Glenn Miller

In his book "Glenn Miller & His Orchestra", George Simon wrote this about the man: "His pet hates were bad swing, early-morning telephone calls (he liked to sleep from 4 a.m. to noon), and the phrase 'goodbye now'.  His favorite quotation, one he stated, was not from the Bible, nor from Runyon, but from Duke Ellington: 'It Don't Mean a Thing If it Ain't Got that Swing!'"

Glenn Miller played and recorded with the likes of Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey (who on several of their records, featured an up-and-coming singer by the name of Bing Crosby), Gene Krupa, Eddie Condon and Coleman Hawkins.  In addition, during that time, Glenn cut 18 sides 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, for the first time, under his own name. Using six horns, a rhythm section and a string quartet, he recorded "Moonlight on the Ganges" and "A Blues Serenade" for Columbia.  But selling only a few hundred records, he continued his position with the Noble Orchestra.  A few years later, Glenn Miller stepped out to form his own band.  There were a few recordings, but it was not to be.  Broke, depressed and having no idea what he was going to do, he returned to New York City. 

It is said that Miller could never remember precisely the moment he decided to emphasize his new reed section sound.  But it was during this disheartening interim, that he realized the unique sound -- produced by the clarinet holding the melodic line while the tenor sax plays the same note, and supported harmonically by three other saxophones -- just might be the individual and easily recognizable style that would set his band apart from all the rest.

For Glenn Miller's full biography and for the current cast of The Glenn Miller Orchestra, visit www.glennmillerorchestra.com.

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