From Legend to Myth
THE GLENN MILLER STORY
Glenn Miller’s life and music already offered plenty of material for legends during his lifetime. So, it’s no surprise that Hollywood brought The Glenn Miller Story to the big screen just ten years after his untimely death.
The Road to Fame
Alton Glenn Miller was born on March 1, 1904, in Clarinda, Iowa. At the age of 13, he bought his first trombone with money he’d earned by milking cows. The trombone remained his favourite instrument. His first important engagement came in 1926 with Ben Pollack’s band, where he played alongside future stars such as 17-year-old Benny Goodman. In late 1928 Glenn moved to New York and married his childhood sweetheart, Helen Burger. By the mid-1930s he had formed his first own band. His big breakthrough came in 1939: audiences adored Glenn Miller and his orchestra, which broke all attendance records.
Glenn Miller’s life and music already offered plenty of material for legends during his lifetime. So it’s no surprise that Hollywood brought The Glenn Miller Story to the big screen just ten years after his untimely death.
The breakthrough came in 1939: the public loved Glenn Miller and his band, which broke all attendance record.
A Life Like in the Movies
The 1954 film is still worth watching today. Its leading role was played by James Stewart, one of the most famous and beloved actors who rose to superstardom in the Golden Fifties. The film idealized Glenn Miller to some extent, but at the same time it painted a relatively authentic picture of its protagonist, showing, for example, the financial struggles in his youth. Unforgettable, too, the scene where, at the first concert with his own big band, Glenn Miller had to replace an ill trumpet player with a clarinettist — the moment the unmistakable Glenn Miller sound was born.
It’s now more than 80 years since Glenn Miller formed the big band that became the very embodiment of swing. His special instrumentation and sophisticated arrangements were hallmarks of the orchestra’s unique sound and key to its success. Both were matters of particular importance to Miller as a bandleader.
The Arranger Makes the Difference
The typical Glenn Miller sound arises from the way the different sections of the big band blend together: at its core, four saxophones and a leading clarinet, then the trombones and trumpets, bass and drums, and last but not least, the piano. Glenn Miller had an exceptional gift for arrangements. A perfectionist, he interpreted and arranged both his own compositions and those of other musicians so that they matched exactly the tone he envisioned — and thus defined the sound of his orchestra.
Swing & Big Band: Creativity Meets Perfection
Today’s swing is inseparably linked with the great big bands of the 1930s and 1940s. In Kansas City, Count Basie’s orchestra developed a “riff style” that applied the old call-and-response pattern to the sections of large jazz orchestras — trumpets, trombones, and saxophones. Musicians who emerged from the Chicago style contributed yet another element. This new musical direction was perfected by Glenn Miller and his orchestra.
The typical Glenn Miller sound is as fresh and captivating today as it was on the very first day.
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Jazz, Swing, Bands and Business – Big Band Swing
Does commercialization harm music? Purists often argue that it does, and they have good reasons. But in many cases, commercialization — treating music as a business — is precisely what allows it to reach a wide audience. Glenn Miller was living proof: a gifted musician and, at the same time, an extraordinarily successful businessman.
In 1940 Glenn Miller and his orchestra had an incredible 23 hits in the US-Top-10 – a record rarely matched to this day.
In total, his songs stayed in the US-charts for 664 weeks – that exceeds 12 years.
GLENN MILLER and his orchestra starred in 15 short films and two Hollywood productions – among them Sun Valley serenade (1941) and Orchestra Wives (1942)
From the Basement to the Concert Hall
In the history of jazz, swing is somewhat unique: it is the style of jazz that, over roughly twenty years — between 1920 and 1940 — achieved the greatest popularity in the United States and, after the war, found enthusiastic fans all over the world. To begin with, swing was pure jazz and the domain of African American musicians. That soon changed: the new style and its infectious rhythm were adopted by “white” mainstream bands and commercially marketed.
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Swing’s success undoubtedly also had to do with the fact that it was perfect for dancing. The first big bands — inseparably linked to the rise of swing — were often booked for large dancing events. But the growing popularity of swing also had another, equally commercial, source: the then-new mass media of records, radio, and sound film. The big bands made recordings, appeared on hugely popular radio shows, and their musicians became something like movie stars. Swing had emerged from the shadows and conquered the limelight.
Glenn Miller was a gifted bandleader and a prudent businessman.
IN CONVERSATION WITH WIL SALDEN
FORMER BANDLEADER
Mr. Salden, you became the leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra 40 years ago. How did that come about?
I caught the big-band bug early. Instead of becoming a music teacher in the Netherlands, I founded my own orchestra. Then I received the official commission to represent the Glenn Miller Orchestra in Europe and parts of Asia with my band. For me it was a great honour and a responsibility that I fulfilled from 1984 to 2024.
A single orchestra would never be able to meet the huge worldwide demand for Glenn Miller concerts.
What made the Glenn Miller Orchestra under your direction so special?
We were not a dance band but a concert orchestra. We performed on major stages in world-renowned venues from Frankfurt to Munich. Our fans listened very attentively. Musical quality and the authenticity of our interpretation were always key.
Performing on a concert stage demands a very high level of technical skill — and we kept getting better at it.
What expectations did you have of your musicians?
With us, it wasn’t enough to play well. You had to be a professional. With 130 performances a year, touring life was demanding. We were constantly on our way by bus, train, or airplane. Sometimes we even slept on the plane between performances.
Your audience was international. How did you experience that?
In Germany, the audience was rather older, whereas in Russia and Israel it was often younger. In the West, many fans had experienced the music during their youth. Elsewhere, Glenn Miller represented a lifestyle—synonymous with joie de vivre.
How did the choice of Uli Plettendorff as your successor come about?
Uli had been the first trombonist since 1987—one of my longest-serving musicians. His experience in management and CD recordings made him the ideal choice. The decision was made during a train ride to Moscow. I said: “If I wanted to hand over the orchestra to anyone, it would be you.”
Knowing the legacy was in good hands was important to me. With Uli Plettendorff, the timeless swing sound remains alive.
IN CONVERSATION WITH
ULI PLETTENDORFF
BANDLEADER
Mr. Plettendorff, since 2024 you have been the leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. But you’ve been part of the ensemble for much longer…
Indeed! My first performance with the orchestra was back in 1987—as a 21-year-old student in Amsterdam. At the time, the leader was Wil Salden. In 2020, he said to me: “If I wanted to hand over the orchestra to anyone, it would be you.” I think my experience in managing recordings and tours, probably made me the obvious choice.
At the age of 14, I realized playing in the school’s big band: This kind of music is just the thing for me!
How has your role changed from trombonist to orchestra leader?
I kind of stumbled into it. After 35 years, I’m one of the longest-serving members. The takeover was not planned, but I already had a lot of experience in organizing tours and recording albums. The decision was actually reached on a night train from Sochi to Moscow in early 2020.
I sort of stumble through life; that’s where creativity comes into play.
How have you shaped the style of the orchestra since taking over?
I am a creative person who plans little—but I am good at seizing opportunities as they arise. That’s why I’m returning to the original spirit of Glenn Miller: He made music for ballrooms and hotels. I wish for the audience to feel encouraged to respond to the music, to abandon themselves to the music the way it was intended.
Swing was the dance music of cool youths. Therefore I encourage people to dance.
How would you describe the characteristic Glenn Miller sound?
Moonlight Serenade is our signature song. An incredibly beautiful composition, melodically and harmonically perfect. Of course, most people know In the Mood—I’ve been playing that piece since I was 14. It’s not a sophisticated composition, but rhythmically it’s strong. Nothing becomes a hit just by accident.
On TikTok there are nine million videos using In the Mood. An 80-year-old song is part of youth culture once again!
While you keep the typical sound—you reach a modern audience. How do you do it?
We reach new target groups primarily through social media and a strong online presence. That shows: the music speaks for itself. I believe in the genre’s quality and impact: Swing will stand the test of time.
Young people are familiar with Glenn Miller through TikTok. When they see us live, they are speechless.
How do you see the future of the Glenn Miller sound in an increasingly digital world?
We are seeing a growing appreciation of authentic, live-performed music. Our tours show that people are looking for genuine musical experiences. We connect people through music that is meant to be experienced together—not in isolation over headphones. The Glenn Miller Orchestra stands for this genuine, connecting power of music.
Authenticity is timeless – just like swing.
