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After the Glenn Miller Story
was released in 1954, my fanatical interest in the Miller
band grew and I began to collect every thing I could.
During the late 50`s HMV issued two 5 record albums,
I had just joined the RAF, (Royal Air Force) during
my service I made a point of collecting more Miller
records. HMV Records had just released the first two
record set, but as I had just been posted I missed the
first set but did manage to get this record set later.
The second set and in my opinion the best set issued
were mostly live recording at places like Meadowbrook,
Cafe Rouge and Glenn Island Casino.
I have spend thousands of hours with my earphones on,
eyes closed, just listening to this wonderful music,
most of which the majority of the public have never
heard or even know about. In 1958 I was posted to Aden,
and later the Persian Gulf, man it was hot up there.
It was during my service in Aden, that while out looking
for more Miller records I came across a white sleeved
LP, with Glenn Miller written in Gold across it. This
was very exciting, as I read the back cover I could
see that it was from a set of five, and then realised
this was the first set of five records issued in the
UK by HMV, but it wasn't in an album but separate records
issued by RCA for the Continental market. In panic I
filed though the rack and to my amazement I found all
five of the set! they cost me two weeks pay (RAF pay
of course!) but they were worth every penny, as here
was another batch of new Glenn Miller recordings I had
yet to hear.
Today there is so much material coming from the Glenn
Miller archives that it is not quite so much a thrill
as it was in those days. Then the AAF (American Air
Force) band, 5 record set was issued. This was the first
we had really been able to hear of this huge band, rated
by the musician who played in this band as well as the
experts, as the Greatest Big Band ever. That may be
so, and I have a large collection of this orchestra,
but to me the civilian band was the most enjoyable.
During those RAF days I would take my Glenn Miller records
where ever I went. I knew it was important to look after
my LP's it is no good playing them on old record players.
So I built myself a new system, with a Garard 301 record
deck, a Tandberg mono arm, and a Jason amplifier, I
built all this into box, when completed it looked rather
like a large suitcase.
When I got it back to camp, (not without the help of
many railway porters, and numorouse tips!) I had only
to screw on four legs to complete my record player system,
which then stood in my bed space. For years my RAF buddies
had to put up with my constant playing of Glenn Miller
records. At first it was the odd boot flying towards
the record player not to mention beer cans and the like,
but gradually the missiles became less frequent and
eventually if I wasn't playing records I would get,
"come on Kingy put some Glenn Miller on".
I think I managed to convert the whole billet and this
was in the days of Bill
Haley, Elvis, Fats Domino
and many other great names. but it was also a time when
the airwaves were full of those great singers left over
from the forties,Frank
Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne
and we were still listening to Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Woody
Herman, Gene Kruper.
Yes in those days of the late fifties the radio was
packed with good music to suit all tastes and lets face
it, we loved it all.
My Miller collection was constantly growing, but now
my interest was expanding into the official follow on
Miller bands, those of Tex
Beneke, Ray McKinley, Buddy Defranco and so on. The Tex Beneke Glenn
Miller band was great, but it is I think right to say
that none of these official GM Bands recreated the true
Miller sound. Occasionally they got very near to it
but they all had there own sound in the Miller mood
, you could say. Tex`s band was really great it was
an exciting swinging band. Tex`s familiar Tenor Sax
was always there and his vocal talents was also good
to hear as they were in the Miller years. I think the
first LP of Tex I bought was a Camden Label called STARDUST
and the great numbers
on this LP were Stardust
of course, Lazy
Bones and Rockin Chair two vocals by Tex, East
of the Sun sung by
a great singer Garry
Stevens who is now
in his eighties and still sings today.
My collection of Tex Beneke recordings have grown over
the years, but my prized records are some 16 inch Voice
of America recording, they are 30 minute live programmes
recorded in the late forties, and early fifties with
such singers as Eydie
Gorme, Gregg Lawrence, Mary Mayo and the Mistro himself,
from the Hollywood Palladium,
California. When this band was launched in 1946 it was
based on the AAF type Miller band (strings) and there
were a number of ex Miller sidemen within this new band
led by Tex. They wereStan
Aaronson and Vince Carbone (TS), Manny Thaler (BS),
Bobby Nichols, Graham Young, Steve Steck and Whitey
Thomas (Tpt) Jimmy Priddy, Paul Tanner, John Halliburton
and Bob Pring (Tmb) Rollie Bundock (Bass) Stan Freeman
(Piano) Bob Gibbons ( Guitar) and Jack Sperling (Drums).
There's a few names
there I'm sure you recognise?. After Tex had ended his
association with the Glenn Miller Estate, the Miller
Band was offered to Ray McKinley and in June 1956, the
New Glenn Miller Orchestra under
the direction of Ray McKinley
was born.
This was another great band with again the Miller Mood
but not in my opinion the true Glenn Miller sound. Again
it was great to be able to see and hear Glenn Miller
Music being played by a band that was well presented
and precision playing just as Miller would have wanted
and in fact demanded from his own musician. I had the
privilege to see the band on there first visit to this
country in 1958 in London, Dominion theatre Tottenham
Court Road. As the sound of Moonlight Serenade was heard
the curtain opened to reveal Ray and the band, the sound
was electrifying and they were greeted with rapturous
applause. I got my ticket for this show through the
Glenn Miller Appreciation Society, (as it was know in
those days) there was a large number of Society members,
at the concert.
We had heard that Helen
Miller was to visit
with this orchestra but during the show Ray McKinley
explained to the audience that this was not correct
and that Helen leads a quite life back in the States.
A bit disappointing for all of us, as this was one lady
we would have loved to have seen.
(Helen Miller died in 1966)
The Ray McKinley
band made several broadcasts on the radio in this country
which I still have on tape and of course they began
to issue several LP`s over the years. Unfortunately
these records were issued just as Stereo was coming
in and if you hadn't got a stereo pickup and cartridge
then you should not play these records on a mono player.
I was too anxious to hear them so played them on my
mono rig and soon wore them out. Luckily over the years
I have manage to replace most of them. Recently issued
in the states are three 1960 TV Videos of the orchestra
with Ray McKinley
and co host Johnny Desmond.
These are black and white (early TV of course) and each
Tape has three half hour programmes of Ray and the Glenn
Miller Orchestra, a must for the keen collector.
Peter King
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