GLENN MILLER :: TOBYS N MORE

Alton Glenn Miller was born on March 1, 1904 at 604 South 16th Street in Clarinda Iowa, USA. He couldn't stand the name Alton! He just hated the sound of it. This would always be Glenn's explanation as to why the country's number one band was not called Alton Miller's.

Glenn Miller was born to Mattie Lou Miller (Ma Miller) and Lewis Elmer Miller (Pa Miller). Glenn had two brothers, Dr Deane Miller, John Herbert Miller, and Irene Miller.

1904 Alton Glenn Miller born in Clarinda, Iowa USA
1915 Millers family moved to Grant City, Missouri.
1918 Miller family moved again,this time to Fort Morgan Colarado
1921 Glenn Graduate high School and decides he wants to become a pro musician
1923 Miller entered the University of Colarado
1926 Miller lands a spot with Ben Pollocks Group in Los Angeles
1928 Glenn marries his college sweetheart, Helen Burger
1930 Glenn was a member of the Red Nichols Orchestra
1935 Glenn assembled an American orchestra for British bandleader Ray Noble
1935 Glenn Made his first movie appearance
1937 Miller forms his first band
1938 Miller band began making recordings for the RCA Victor Bluebird Records

In 1915 the Miller family moved to Grant City, Missouri where Glenn sang in the choir; however he did not show much talent at an early age. His parents gave him a mandolin and one day he went home with a battered horn. He traded that off for the mandolin.

In 1918 the Millers moved farther west to Fort Morgan, Colorado where Glenn went to High School.

Glenn's high school grades were un-impressive, almost all 'C's'. Glenn played end on the high school football team and made the state's all star team. Glenn also played trombone in the High School band. In addition to football, band and roles in high school plays, Glenn loved baseball.

Glenn graduated from High School in May 1921 and entered into the University of Colorado in 1923. Glen spent most of his time in University with a band led by a fellow student and less time attending classes. Despite failing grades, Glenn continued to play his trombone. Glenn dropped out of school and decided to concentrate on making a career as a professional musician

1942 was the first full year of American participation in World War II, marked the end of Miller's dominance of popular music, since, after months of negotiations, he arranged to receive an officer's commission in the army air force on September 10 and, 17 days later, played his final date with his band, which he then broke up.

He organized a service band and began performing at military camps and war-bond rallies while hosting a weekly radio series, Sustain the Wings. Nevertheless, Glenn scored two Top Ten hits in 1943, including the number one "That Old Black Magic"

Glenn took his band to Great Britain in June 1944 and continued to perform for the troops and do radio broadcasts. He was preparing to go on to Paris when the plane on which he was traveling disappeared over the English Channel.

On December 15th, 1944 Major Glenn Miller was to fly from the United Kingdom to Paris France to play for the soldiers who liberated Paris.

He flew out of RAF Twinwood Farms but the plane disappeared over the English Chanel.

For many years the army suspected that ice on the wings may have sent the plane plummeting into the English Channel.

Another theory is that Miller's plane was hit when Allied bombers returning from an aborted mission jettisoned their bombs over the Channel.

Miller remains and the wreckage of the plane have never been found.

There'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, Just you wait and see.
There'll be joy and laughter
And peace ever after,
Tomorrow, When the world is free,

The shepherd will count his sheep
The valleys will bloom again,
And Jimmy will go to sleep
In his own little room again,

There'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, Just you wait and see.

Glenn Miller

My prayer is to linger with you
At the end of the day
In a dream that's divine...

My prayer is a rapture in blue
With the world far away
And our lips close to mine.

Tonight, while our hearts are aglow,
Oh, tell me the words that I'm longing to know...

My prayer and the answer you give,
May they still be the same for as long as we live,
That you'll always be there
At the end of my prayer!

Train

Hey there Tex, what you say?
Step aside partner, it's my day
Lend an ear and listen to my version
(Of a really solid, Tennessee excursion)
Pardon me boys, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?
(Yes Yes) Track 29!
Boy you can give me a shine
(Can you afford to board, the Chattanooga Choo Choo?)
I've got my fare
And just a trifle to spare
You leave the Pennsylvania station 'bout a quarter to four
Read a magazine and then you're in Baltimore
Dinner in the diner, nothin' could be finer
(then to have your ham and eggs in Carolina)
When you hear the whistle blowin' eight to the bar
Then you know that Tennessee is not very far
Shovel all the coal in
Gotta keep it rollin'
(Whoo Whoo Chattanooga there you are)
There's gonna be, a certain party at the station
Satin and Lace
I used to call funny face
She's gonna cry
Until I tell her that I'll never roam
(So Chattanooga Choo Choo)
Won't you choo choo me home.
Get aboard...
All aboard...
Chattanooga choo choo
Won't you choo choo me home