Biographical Note
Glenn Miller was a American trombonist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. He directed the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1938 to 1942, becoming the best-selling recording artist for all four consecutive years. In 1942, he left his established career to join the military. At 38, Miller was ineligible for the draft and was later rejected by the Navy. Through his contact with Army Brigadier General Charles Young, Miller was accepted into the Army as a Captain in the Army Specialist Corps and eventually transferred to the Army Air Forces. In 1943, Miller received permission to form the 418th Army Air Force Band, and in the summer of 1944, the ensemble toured military bases across England and took part in radio broadcasts. On December 15th, 1944, while on route to Paris, Miller's single-engine plane disappeared over the English Channel. Miller and the two other military personnel on board, Lieutenant Colonel Norman Baessell and pilot John Morgan, were deemed Missing in Action.
The Glenn Miller Story is a 1954 biographical film produced by Universal-International Pictures that follows the life and career of Glenn Miller. The film starred James Stewart as Glenn Miller and June Allyson as as his wife, Helen Miller. Miller's early career, as well as his courtship and marriage, are featured prominently in the film. Numerous musicians that Miller worked with professionally make cameos throughout, including Louis Armstrong, Frances Langford, Gene Krupa, and Barney Bigard. The film's soundtrack features arrangements of big band tunes that the Glenn Miller Orchestra often played, including the popular "Moonlight Serenade."