Glenn miller orchestra biography of donald

Arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody , and three other saxophones playing harmony , the band became the most popular and commercially successful dance orchestra of the swing era and one of the greatest singles charting acts of the 20th century. As of , Ray Anthony is the last surviving member of the orchestra.

Miller began professionally recording in New York City as a sideman in the hot jazz era of the late s. With the arrival of virtuoso trombonists Jack Teagarden and Tommy Dorsey , Miller focused more on developing his arrangement skills. Writing for contemporaries and future stars such as Artie Shaw , and Benny Goodman , Miller gained prowess as an arranger by working in a variety of settings.

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Later, Miller largely improved his arranging and writing skills by studying under music theorist Joseph Schillinger. In February , Miller started an orchestra that briefly made records for Decca. With this group, Miller used an arrangement he wrote for British bandleader Ray Noble 's American band in an attempt to form a clarinet-reed sound. This style developed over time, and eventually became known as the Glenn Miller sound.

Frustrated with his agency over playing inconsistent bookings and lacking broad radio exposure, Miller gave the band notice in December Less than three months later, he was looking for members and forming a new band. Miller began a partnership with Eli Oberstein , which led directly to a contract with Victor subsidiary Bluebird Records.