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After the Glenn Miller Story was released in 1954, my fanatical interest in the Miller
band grew and I began to collect every thing I could. During the late 50`s HMV issued two 5 record albums, I had
just joined the RAF, (Royal Air Force) during my service I made a point of collecting more Miller records. HMV
Records had just released the first two record set, but as I had just been posted I missed the first set but did
manage to get this record set later. The second set and in my opinion the best set issued were mostly live recording
at places like Meadowbrook, Cafe Rouge and Glenn Island Casino.
I have spend thousands of hours with my earphones on, eyes closed, just listening to this wonderful music, most
of which the majority of the public have never heard or even know about. In 1958 I was posted to Aden, and later
the Persian Gulf, man it was hot up there. It was during my service in Aden, that while out looking for more Miller
records I came across a white sleeved LP, with Glenn Miller written in Gold across it. This was very exciting,
as I read the back cover I could see that it was from a set of five, and then realised this was the first set of
five records issued in the UK by HMV, but it wasn't in an album but separate records issued by RCA for the Continental
market. In panic I filed though the rack and to my amazement I found all five of the set! they cost me two weeks
pay (RAF pay of course!) but they were worth every penny, as here was another batch of new Glenn Miller recordings
I had yet to hear.
Today there is so much material coming from the Glenn Miller archives that it is not quite so much a thrill as
it was in those days. Then the AAF (American Air Force) band, 5 record set was issued. This was the first we had
really been able to hear of this huge band, rated by the musician who played in this band as well as the experts,
as the Greatest Big Band ever. That may be so, and I have a large collection of this orchestra, but to me the civilian
band was the most enjoyable. During those RAF days I would take my Glenn Miller records where ever I went. I knew
it was important to look after my LP's it is no good playing them on old record players. So I built myself a new
system, with a Garard 301 record deck, a Tandberg mono arm, and a Jason amplifier, I built all this into box, when
completed it looked rather like a large suitcase.
When I got it back to camp, (not without the help of many railway porters, and numorouse tips!) I had only to screw
on four legs to complete my record player system, which then stood in my bed space. For years my RAF buddies had
to put up with my constant playing of Glenn Miller records. At first it was the odd boot flying towards the record
player not to mention beer cans and the like, but gradually the missiles became less frequent and eventually if
I wasn't playing records I would get, "come on Kingy put some Glenn Miller on". I think I managed to
convert the whole billet and this was in the days of Bill Haley, Elvis, Fats
Domino and many other great names. but it was also a time when the airwaves
were full of those great singers left over from the forties,Frank Sinatra, Sammy
Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and we were still listening to Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Gene Kruper. Yes in those
days of the late fifties the radio was packed with good music to suit all tastes and lets face it, we loved it
all.
My Miller collection was constantly growing, but now my interest was expanding into the official follow on Miller
bands, those of Tex Beneke, Ray McKinley, Buddy Defranco and so on. The Tex Beneke Glenn Miller band was great, but it is I think right to say that none of
these official GM Bands recreated the true Miller sound. Occasionally they got very near to it but they all had
there own sound in the Miller mood , you could say. Tex`s band was really great it was an exciting swinging band.
Tex`s familiar Tenor Sax was always there and his vocal talents was also good to hear as they were in the Miller
years. I think the first LP of Tex I bought was a Camden Label called STARDUST
and the great numbers on this LP were Stardust
of course, Lazy Bones and Rockin Chair two vocals by Tex, East of the Sun
sung by a great singer Garry Stevens who is
now in his eighties and still sings today.
My collection of Tex Beneke recordings have grown over the years, but my prized records are some 16 inch Voice
of America recording, they are 30 minute live programmes recorded in the late forties, and early fifties with such
singers as Eydie Gorme, Gregg Lawrence, Mary Mayo and the Mistro himself, from the Hollywood Palladium, California. When this band was launched in 1946 it was based on the
AAF type Miller band (strings) and there were a number of ex Miller sidemen within this new band led by Tex. They
wereStan Aaronson and Vince Carbone (TS), Manny Thaler (BS), Bobby Nichols, Graham
Young, Steve Steck and Whitey Thomas (Tpt) Jimmy Priddy, Paul Tanner, John Halliburton and Bob Pring (Tmb) Rollie
Bundock (Bass) Stan Freeman (Piano) Bob Gibbons ( Guitar) and Jack Sperling (Drums).
There's a few names there I'm sure you recognise?. After Tex had ended his association
with the Glenn Miller Estate, the Miller Band was offered to Ray McKinley and in June 1956, the New Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Ray McKinley
was born.
This was another great band with again the Miller Mood but not in my opinion the true Glenn Miller sound. Again
it was great to be able to see and hear Glenn Miller Music being played by a band that was well presented and precision
playing just as Miller would have wanted and in fact demanded from his own musician. I had the privilege to see
the band on there first visit to this country in 1958 in London, Dominion theatre Tottenham Court Road. As the
sound of Moonlight Serenade was heard the curtain opened to reveal Ray and the band, the sound was electrifying
and they were greeted with rapturous applause. I got my ticket for this show through the Glenn Miller Appreciation
Society, (as it was know in those days) there was a large number of Society members, at the concert.
We had heard that Helen Miller was to visit
with this orchestra but during the show Ray McKinley explained to the audience that this was not correct and that
Helen leads a quite life back in the States. A bit disappointing for all of us, as this was one lady we would have
loved to have seen. (Helen Miller died in 1966)
The Ray McKinley band made several broadcasts
on the radio in this country which I still have on tape and of course they began to issue several LP`s over the
years. Unfortunately these records were issued just as Stereo was coming in and if you hadn't got a stereo pickup
and cartridge then you should not play these records on a mono player. I was too anxious to hear them so played
them on my mono rig and soon wore them out. Luckily over the years I have manage to replace most of them. Recently
issued in the states are three 1960 TV Videos of the orchestra with Ray McKinley
and co host Johnny Desmond. These are black and white (early TV of course) and
each Tape has three half hour programmes of Ray and the Glenn Miller Orchestra, a must for the keen collector.
Peter King
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