The world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra will return for its 4th Buttermilk Festival appearance, and the performance will be moved to the County Fairgrounds in the event of bad weather.
The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all dance bandleaders back in the Swing Era of the 1930’s and 40’s. A matchless string of hit records, the constant impact of radio broadcasts and the drawing power at theatres, hotels and dance pavilion, built and sustained the momentum of popularity. Miller disbanded his musical organization in 1942 at the height of its popularity to volunteer for the Army. There, he organized and led the famous Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. It went to Europe to entertain servicemen performing numerous live and radio shows. On December 15, 1944, Major Miller took off in a single engine plane from Europe to precede his band to France and disappeared over the English Channel, never to be seen again. The army declared him officially dead a year later.
With the release of the major motion movie The Glenn Miller Story featuring Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson in 1954, interest and popular demand led the Miller Estate to authorize the formation of the present Glenn Miller Orchestra. On June 6, 1956, and under the direction of drummer Ray McKinley, who had become the unofficial leader of the Army Air Force Band after Glenn’s disappearance, the reformed Glenn Miller Orchestra performed its first concert and has been on the road ever since. Other leaders have followed Ray including clarinetists Buddy DeFranco and Peanuts Hucko, trombonists Buddy Morrow, Jimmy Henderson, Larry O’Brien and Gary Tole, and tenor saxophonist Dick Gerhart. Since January 2012, vocalist Nick Hilscher leads the band. Today, the 18 member ensemble continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements both from the civilian band and the AAFB libraries, along with more recent tunes arranged and performed in the Miller style.
Just as it was in Glenn’s day, the Glenn Miller Orchestra today is still the most sought after big band in the world. As the only full-time touring, swing-era orchestra today, the group travels over 100,000 miles a year, performing such memorable Miller tunes as String of Pearls, Little Brown Jug, Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Moonlight Serenade, and In the Mood. Funding for this event is provided by is provided by major sponsors and co-sponsors, the Friends of the Festival, and a free-will offering that will be taken during the evening. A food concession, serving sandwiches, desserts and beverages, will be available beginning at 6:00 p.m.
