Brief Summary
This video tells the story of Glenn Miller, a legendary bandleader who achieved immense popularity during the Big Band era. The video explores his early life, his rise to fame, and his mysterious disappearance during World War II. It delves into various theories surrounding his disappearance, including friendly fire, German capture, and a plane crash. The video concludes with the discovery of potential wreckage and the final theory proposed by Miller's son, Steven.
- Glenn Miller was a talented musician who achieved immense popularity during the Big Band era.
- He disappeared mysteriously during World War II, leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions.
- The video explores various theories surrounding his disappearance, including friendly fire, German capture, and a plane crash.
- The video concludes with the discovery of potential wreckage and the final theory proposed by Miller's son, Steven.
Early Life and Rise to Fame
Glenn Miller was born in Iowa in 1904 and moved to Nebraska in 1915. He started playing trombone at a young age and dedicated himself to music, even missing his high school graduation for a gig. He moved to New York City and studied the Schillinger system, a method of composing music using mathematical concepts. He wrote a song called "Miller's Tune," which later became his signature song, "Moonlight Serenade." Miller faced competition from other musicians, including Jack Tea Garden, who was a better trombone player. He decided to focus on arranging and composing music, which led to his rise to fame. He married Helen Burer, despite her parents' disapproval, and secured financial backing from his friend Simon Shriman to assemble his orchestra. By 1938, Miller was gaining popularity in the New York area.
Glenn Island Casino and National Fame
Miller's career took off after playing at the Glenn Island Casino, where he drew a crowd of 1,800 people. By the following year, Time Magazine reported that at least two, and sometimes up to six, of the most popular songs on jukeboxes across America were Miller's. His version of "Tuxedo Junction" sold 115,000 copies in its opening week. Miller's career reached new heights when he played at Carnegie Hall in 1939.
Hollywood and "Chattanooga Choo Choo"
Hollywood came calling when 20th Century Fox was making the musical comedy "Sun Valley Serenade." Miller was asked to provide the music and even play a role in the film. He provided a showstopping sequence featuring the song "Chattanooga Choo Choo," which became the first gold record ever, selling 1.2 million copies.
World War II and Military Service
When World War II began, Miller wanted to enlist but was ineligible due to his marriage and glasses. He instead proposed a new idea for military music, incorporating jazz to boost soldiers' morale. His application was approved, and he joined the Army in 1942. He screened personnel for bands, recruited new musicians, and was responsible for a radio production unit. Miller's use of jazz arrangements in military music was controversial, but he eventually won over the purists.
Deployment to Europe and Disappearance
In 1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower requested Miller and his unit be sent to Europe to boost morale. Miller flew to London in June 1944 and set up his band in a BBC Radio office. The office was bombed a day later, killing 150 people. Miller planned to move his unit to France to entertain troops, but his travel plans were delayed. He was invited to fly to Paris with Lieutenant Colonel Norman Basel on December 15th, 1944, on a small single-engine plane. The plane took off from RAF Twinwood Farm, and neither Miller, Basel, nor the pilot were ever seen again.
Theories and Investigations
The disappearance of Miller's plane went unnoticed for nine days due to the Battle of the Bulge. When the Allies realized he was missing, two senior officers informed Helen Miller, who was speechless. The video explores various theories surrounding Miller's disappearance, including a plane crash due to fog and ice, German capture, and friendly fire. In 2000, a logbook from World War II was auctioned off, and the writer, Derek Thurman, claimed that he saw a small plane headed in the opposite direction during a raid on Germany. He suspected that unused explosives they were supposed to drop into the sea hit Miller's plane. In 2012, a fisherman discovered plane wreckage in his nets and later realized it could be Miller's plane. Authorities located the wreckage near Dorset, England, but there is still no concrete proof that it is Miller's aircraft.
Steven Miller's Investigation and Final Theory
Glenn Miller's son, Steven, hired an expert on his father's life, Dennis Sprag, to investigate his disappearance. Sprag discovered military documents that suggested the fuel intakes on Miller's plane froze, causing it to crash over the English Channel. Steven passed away in 2012 before he could learn the truth about his father's disappearance.
