Dance the night away

By The Standard Staff - 04/03/2008

A fundraising evening featuring the Glenn Miller Orchestra starts at 8 p.m. Friday, April 4, in the Masonic Temple ballroom, next to the Mother Lode Theater, 316 W. Park St.

Tickets are $35 per person. Proceeds go to the theater and the temple. For tickets or details, call 723-3602.

The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all the dance band leaders in the Swing era of the 1930s and 1940s. A matchless string of hit records, the constant impact of radio broadcasts, the drawing power at theaters, hotels and dance pavilions built and sustained the momentum of popularity.

Miller disbanded his musical organization in 1942, at the height of its popularity, volunteered for the Army, and then organized and led the famous Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. It went to Europe to entertain servicemen. Then, on Dec. 15, 1944, Maj. Miller took off in a single-engine plane from England to precede his band to France, never to be seen again. The Army declared him officially dead a year later.

Due to the popular demand, the Miller estate authorized the formation of the present Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1956. The 19-member band continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements. Also, they play more modern selections in the big-band style.

The entire repertoire exceeds 1,700 compositions.