In the Mood

Today is the birthday of a famous author; well, famous from about New Market, Virginia to somewhere north of Mt. Jackson and the greater Williamsport area, but it is also the birthday of one of America's greatest musicians, Glenn Miller.  Folks may talk about Elvis or the Beatles or the Bee Gees, but the Glenn Miller Orchestra outdid them all with 70 top ten hits between 1939 and 1942.  SEVENTY!!  Yet today, members of the current generation recognize certain Miller tunes such as "In the Mood" and "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" even if they cannot name the artist.  Other Miller hits include "Moonlight Serenade," "Pennsylvania 6-5000," "Little Brown Jug," and "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" among obviously, many others.

Miller entered the service during WWII as a captain in the Army Air Corps where he led the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band, according to the official Glenn Miller website.  They traveled the European Theater playing for the troops who were thrilled to hear the music from home.  Miller was killed in December of 1944 when his plane went missing.  No trace of the crew or the plane has ever been found.

Glenn Miller was ancient history when I was growing up, but I can assure my readers that he is ancient history worth discovering.  His happy tunes are fast moving.  Close your eyes during an evocative song such as "Moonlight Serenade" and you can easily imagine strolling the sun room at the Mimslyn Inn in Luray, an orchestra playing in the ballroom below and a June breeze wafting the scent of magnolia blossoms into the open French doors.

Oh, and one more thing about Glenn Miller; according to the Glenn Miller website, he loved to play baseball.  Must be something about being born on March 1st.

Downtown Chattanooga pays homage to one of Glenn Miller's famous hits.  The lyrics are written in the concrete crossties spanning the iron rails.

We'll discuss Olympic hockey on Wednesday!

Comments

[Jesse]

Two things: 1) I would also include "soon to be famous nationally" :)
2) I think my favorite Glenn Miller tune is "In the Mood". I actually think that became my favorite originally because I heard it on the Simpsons and it was really catchy. Simpsons are good for both entertainment and spreading history I guess.