Music information about Glenn Miller

The music audience today is far larger than it was in 1940. The technologies and methods of measuring audience metrics have also changed. It is not really possible to compare head-to-head the popularity of artists from one era to another based on gross singles/albums/downloads sales, radio station/streaming plays. For example, in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s not everyone had a device at home for replaying popular music. Most people listened to records played over broadcast radio or in public at a jukebox. Suffice to say, at least for me, Glenn Miller’s greatness was sealed with over a 40% market share in the jukeboxes and his service to his country.

Glenn Miller had two music careers in one. First was his civilian career. Second was his music service in the military. Most people are not familiar with the “Superband” sound of his military career, because these works were the property of the U. S. Government, not making their way to general release in the music markets until decades later as special compilation releases. One of the purposes of this station is/was to keep the legacy of his work in the military alive and introduce it to a new generation. As he was freed of any 3 minute record time limit, most of the band’s works were played or broadcast live, as well as influence from record labels; these are the best versions of his works available.

Seven Remarkable Things To Know About Glenn Miller:

1.) Even by today’s standards Glenn Miller’s recorded music numbers are ‘untouchable’. In just four years, Miller scored 16 number one records and 69 top 10 hits, which is more than Elvis Presley (40) and the Beatles (33) got in their careers. From 1938-1942 the Glenn Miller Orchestra released 288 sides.

2.) Even by today’s standards Glenn Miller’s live performance numbers are ‘untouchable’. In World War II, from 1942-1944, Glenn Miller’s bands; the Army Air Force Band and the Band of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, played more than 800 concerts in the U. K. alone and 500 radio broadcasts.

3.) “7-0-5” or “Seven-O-Five” or “705” is an instrumental composed by Glenn Miller in 1943. The instrumental was performed by the Army Air Force Orchestra under the leadership of Capt. Glenn Miller in 1943-1944. It was published as “Rock and Ride”.

4.) During World War Two, Abbey Road’s second studio was used for propaganda recordings and BBC broadcasts. Glenn Miller, recorded with Dinah Shore in studio one on September 16 1944, the last recordings he made.

5.) During one of Glenn Miller’s last interviews over the BBC, he said this: “I hope we can send some of our bands over here and bring some of your bands over to the states after the war”.

6.) “The Beatles Anthology” is a documentary television series about the career of the Beatles. It was broadcast on UK television on November and December 1995, while in the United States on November 1995. The first piece of non-Beatles music played on the first episode was a clip of Glenn Miller’s “In The Mood” followed by Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again”. During one of Glenn Miller’s last interviews over the BBC, he said this: “We’ve had the pleasure of playing with such fine British artists and new friends like Vera Lynn”.

7.) Glenn Miller encouraged experimental music. During World War II, Mell Powell was drafted into the U.S. Army having been assigned to Glenn Miller’s Army Air Force Band from 1943 to 1945. It was here he composed “Pearls on Velvet” as well as Alfred Dexter’s “Pistol-Packin’ Mama”.

Please reference this excellent short biography linked here.