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Glenn Miller's influence on the history of jazz represents a contradiction. Though many jazz enthusiasts disapproved of his disciplined, unorthodox approach, Miller's music experienced undeniable popularity and success with 1940s audiences, and still charms listeners today. "Some of the critics," said Miller in 1940, "point their fingers at us and charge us with forsaking real jazz." He then concluded, "It's all in what you define as 'real jazz.'" Regardless of criticism he encountered, Miller devoted his life to crafting enjoyable music, aiming not to appease his critics, but to entertain his listeners.
Miller's Early Years
Glenn Miller was born Alton Glenn Miller on March 1, 1904, in Clarinda, Iowa.
His parents, Elmer and Mattie Lou Miller, soon moved their family from Iowa first
to Nebraska, then to Missouri, and eventually, to Fort Morgan, Colorado. In each
of these new cities, Miller's musical development took a new step. During his family's stay in Nebraska, Miller's
father brought him a mandolin, which the boy soon traded for an old horn. While
in Missouri, he first started playing the trombone as a member of a town band.
When his family moved to Fort Morgan in 1918, Miller nourished his musical talents
by joining his high school band.
Struggle to the Top
Immediately after graduating high school in 1921, Glenn Miller entered the Boyd
Senter band, the first of a series of musical groups he would join. He later
quit this group to attend the University of Colorado in 1923, but soon abandoned
his college career to pursue his love of music. Over the next years, he moved
to Los Angeles and became a member of Ben Pollack's band, then came to New York
City in 1928, working as a trombonist and musical arranger. At this time, Miller
married Helen Burger, his college sweetheart. Miller then worked for the Dorsey
Brothers Orchestra, organized an orchestra for Ray Noble, and studied music theory
and composition with Joseph Schillinger.
Miller first recorded under his own name in 1934, while still working with the
Noble orchestra. Then, in 1937, he tried to form his own band, which gained little
popularity. After disbanding and then reorganizing his group, Miller finally
found success in 1938, when the new Glenn Miller Orchestra got an engagement
at the Glen Island Casino.
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