The New Glenn Miller Sound...

In 1937, Glenn decided to fulfill his dream and organize his own band. This first band soon ran into financial difficulties and had to disband . The second Glenn Miller Orchestra -- which would later include the likes of Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, Ray Eberle, Paul Tanner, Johnny Best, Hal McIntyre, and Al Klinck - soon began breaking attendance records all up and down the East Coast. At the New York State Fair in Syracuse it attracted the largest dancing crowd in the city's history. The next night it topped Guy Lombardo's all-time record at the Hershey Park Ballroom in Pennsylvania.

The Orchestra was invited by ASCAP to perform at Carnegie Hall with three of the greatest bands ever -- Paul Whiteman, Fred Waring and Benny Goodman -- and created more of a stir than any of them. This time was different, and in March of 1939, his band was chosen to play the summer season at the prestigious Glen Island Casino, in New Rochelle, New York. This big break led to another important engagement at Meadowbrook, New Jersey in the spring of the same year. Both places offered frequent radio broadcasts, and by mid-summer, the Miller Orchestra had developed a nationwide following. In the fall of 1939, it began a series of radio broadcasts for Chesterfield cigarettes which increased its already great popularity.

From "Orchestra Wives"

Glenn Miller (center forward) and his orchestra playing "People Like You and Me," as Marian Hutton and the Modernaires sing.

Tex Beneke is at extreme right. That's Jackie Gleason at the left, Cesar Romero at the piano, and George Montgomery is in the back row.

The Recordings...

There were record-breaking recordings, as well, such as "Tuxedo Junction", which sold 115,000 copies in the first week. "In the Mood", and "Pennsylvania 6-5000", all appearing on the RCA Victor Bluebird label.

In early 1940, Down Beat Magazine announced that Miller had topped all other bands in its Sweet Band Poll, and capping off this seemingly sudden rise to the top, there was, of course, Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Serenade" radio series for Chesterfield cigarettes which aired three times a week over CBS.

Hollywood Calls....

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. "I Know Why" was another hit penned by Harry Warren for Glenn and his Orchestra for this movie.

Then came "Orchestra Wives" in 1942. Glenn and his Orchestra performed five of Harry's songs in this film. Three of them became pop song classics, "I Got A Gal In Kalamazoo," "At Last," and "Serenade In Blue." "That's Sabotage was a favorite of the day but seldom heard since, whereas "People Like You and Me" is kept alive today by Miller's recording.

Thereafter, the band was in constant demand for recording sessions. These films were the highlights of GlenÕs career, and featured the great hits of Harry Warren, in a historic pairing which would put both of them on the HIT PARADE map and in musical history.