Full list of live events

JOHNNYSWIM, composed of the magnetic duo Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez, effortlessly enthralls audiences with their heartfelt melodies, intertwining personal experiences and imaginative tales. Their music is a vibrant tapestry woven with memories, emotions, and dreams, blending singer-songwriter tradition with alternative flair, rock vigor, and pop ambition. Through extensive touring, they've cultivated a devoted fanbase worldwide, connecting deeply with listeners.
Critics from NPR, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Nylon, and Rolling Stone have hailed JOHNNYSWIM's blend of Folk, Pop, and Blues as "captivating and unforgettable." Their electrifying performances on shows like The Today Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live have enchanted audiences, reinforcing their dynamic presence in the music realm.
In their new album When The War Is Over, the band captures a profound journey through personal upheaval and resilience. Inspired by a season marked by intense challenges, Abner and Amanda vulnerably explore themes of physical and mental health, and self-realization through 11 deeply personal tracks. It symbolizes their journey toward healing, serving as a declaration of moving forward. Arriving amidst uncertain times, When The War Is Over is more than a collection of songs—it stands defiantly as a testimony of resilience, vulnerability, and the unbreakable bond between two people navigating life’s storms together.

For over a decade Tuba Skinny has grown steadily in popularity, releasing twelve albums and touring all over the world. They’ve attracted a wide variety of fans- young and old, neophytes and niche-enthusiasts- with the strength of their musicianship and the scope of their jazz and American roots music catalog.

While they’ve become known as world-class interpreters of traditional jazz, over the years they’ve branched out into jug band music, spirituals, country blues, string band music, ragtime, and New Orleans R&B. Their approach is a true reflection of Americana, encompassing the full genealogy of popular American music from an early 20th century perspective. 

Despite a general lack of interest in social media and a limited release of their music online, they’ve amassed an enthusiastic digital following. 

“As a band, our aim is to make music that acknowledges the pain and difficulty of the moment, but takes a step back to look at the harmony we can create through all that life throws at us."

-Trent Wagler

Virginia-based folk-rock band The Steel Wheels have spent almost twenty years writing, recording, and touring, all the while constantly honing their evolving brand of American roots music. Additionally they are the founders and hosts of the Red Wing Roots Music Festival, a beloved staple of the Shenandoah Valley. Through the years, The Steel Wheels have drawn on both traditional form and modern sounds to capture the beauty in all of life’s varied trials and triumphs. Their new album, Sideways, which releases on February 9, 2024 via Big Ring Records, is a meditation on resilience and survival. Trent Wagler, the band’s lead singer and primary songwriter, penned many of the songs in response to loss, and the uncertainty that comes with facing what we can’t control.

Sideways begins with “Wait On You,” bounding out of the gates with a fervor carried by The Steel Wheels’ signature close harmonies and propulsive mountain energy. Through a seemingly simple story of the naivety of youth, the belief that we can skate by without being prepared for misfortune and the unexpected, the album kicks off with a kind of emboldening invitation in the face of an unavoidable truth. The world doesn’t wait on us—it’s our responsibility to shore ourselves up, to show up, to be ready to be a part of it all.

This year hit like a hurricane.
The winds they knocked me over

From their beginnings in mid-Sixties Ohio as a group of friends playing cover tunes to the present-day unit featuring the propulsive team of drummer Scott Thompson and bassist Jared Camic, keyboard master Randy Harper, guitar ace/vocalist Jeff Zona and Pedal Steel/Saxophonist John Heinrich, PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE continues to embellish the rich 50-plus year history of one of Country-Rock’s pioneering forces. As one reviewer recently wrote: “PPL’s sound combines sweet memories with edgy, contemporary muscle. Their vocals are as strong as Kentucky moonshine and the musicianship and performance skills are as sharp as a straight razor”.

Their eponymous first album – featuring the Norman Rockwell/Saturday Evening Post cover that introduced fans to PPL’s trademark cowpoke “Sad Luke” – has been hailed as a “major early influence in the emerging popularity of Country-Rock music”. Their second effort, the multi-platinum “Bustin’ Out” brought us the Craig Fuller-penned classic “Amie”, along with other gems of the genre. With “Two Lane Highway”, nine more albums and countless shows, a legacy has been forged and enriched, highlighting contributions from several noteworthy members, including original co-founder George Ed Powell, Cincinnati’s legendary Goshorn Brothers, Country Hall of Famers Gary Burr and Vince Gill, award-winning writer Jeff Wilson (3 Top-20 singles), top Nashville session vocalist Curtis Wright, and a host of other guest appearances from Chet Atkins, Johnny Gimble, EmmyLou Harris, David Sanborn, Don Felder, Nicolette Larson, Rosemary Butler, Jenifer Wrinkle, Jeff (Birdman) Kirk, Mat Britain and many more.

Now in their sixth decade, Pure Prairie League continues to lead the way for the new generation of Country/Rockers such as Keith Urban, Nickel Creek, Wilco, Counting Crows and so many others that cite PPL as a major influence.

With the release of their new album “Back On Track” PPL brings it all back home with a dozen new songs that complete the circle begun in 1970 and continues to this day.

There is no other performer who looks and sounds so much like Elton John, nor any tribute act that provides the experience of being at an Elton John concert the way Gerald Brann and Yellow Brick Road do. Brann not only bears an uncanny resemblance to the international superstar — complete with gap-toothed smile and many of his mannerisms — but recreates Elton John's vocals and playing to a tee.

To capture the essence of the piano man, Brann dresses in replica costumes and wears Elton's trademark outrageous glasses. A trained jazz pianist, Brann has been a lifelong Elton John fan, and his admiration for and love of his music comes shining through as he plays one hit after another with remarkable likeness to the pop music icon. Brann and his talented five-piece band evoke audience participation throughout the entire show — whether singing along to "Rocket Man" and "Your Song," swaying to "Candle in the Wind," or hopping and bopping to "Crocodile Rock."

Emmy Award winner and two-time Grammy Award nominee David Cross is an acclaimed comedian, actor, writer, and producer whose work has left an impactful mark on television, film, and stand-up comedy. He is best known as the co-creator and star of the influential HBO sketch series Mr. Show with Bob and David, and for his iconic role of Tobias Fünke on the Emmy Award-winning series Arrested Development. Cross was also part of the ensemble cast of The Ben Stiller Show, earning an Emmy Award forwriting early in his career.

Cross has been performing stand-up comedy for over 40 years, and has released numerous critically acclaimed specials and albums including Making America Great Again! for Netflix, Oh Come On, I’m From The Future, and The Pride Is Back, which was highlighted by Rolling Stone as one of the 25 most important stand-up specials of all time, among multiple others. His comedy albums have earned multiple Grammy nominations, and his international tours have taken him to theatres around the globe. He currently has a residency at Union Hall in NYC through April 2026, and has solidified his reputation as one of the most inventive and fearless voices in comedy.

His latest stand-up special, The End Of The Beginning Of The End, premieres April 7 th exclusively on YouTube with 800 Pound Gorilla Media and produced by YMH Studios. Filmed at the legendary 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, Cross dives into New York living, unconventional takes on history, an absurd massage encounter and today’s struggles of being a woman.

On screen, Cross has appeared in a wide range of television projects, including the HBO Max miniseries Station Eleven, Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, Genius: Aretha, and Goliath. His film credits include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Ghost World, Sorry to Bother You, Kill Your Darlings, Alvin and the Chipmunks, She’s the Man, Men in Black, The Post, the 2025 theatrically released comedy Oh, Hi!, and most recently starred and executive produced the indie feature Lucy Shulman, as well as NYTW’s Tartuffe this past winter opposite Matthew Broderick. He has also lent his voice to numerous animated films, including the Kung Fu Panda franchise, Megamind, Next Gen, and Curious George.

Cross is a prolific creator and storyteller both here and abroad. He wrote, created and starred in The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, a co-production between IFC in the states and Channel 4 in the UK, wrote, directed, and produced, Bliss for Sky TV also in the UK, as well as writing and directing the independent feature Hits, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He is also the co-author of the book Hollywood Said No!, written with Bob Odenkirk and Brian Posehn as well as the NY Times bestselling author of, I Drink For A Reason. Cross most recently reunited with Odenkirk for the documentary Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu.
 
David Cross currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. For more information, please visit https://officialdavidcross.com/

ABOUT JACKSON DEAN: With his strong gravel-toned vocals, wayward spirit, intentional songwriting and overall mystique, PLATINUM-selling singer/songwriter Jackson Dean has earned a reputation for his impressive live show and thought-provoking music. Since astonishing Nashville in 2022 with Greenbroke, the acoustic-forward debut that rocked as hard as it embraced freedom, the dusky-voiced songwriter from Maryland has always gone his own way rather than chasing trends. “Don’t Come Lookin’,” his propulsive No. 1 debut single, struck PLATINUM, giving Greenbroke a launching pad for a writer willing to pay the price and go the distance. The demand for Jackson skyrocketed after landing a coveted spot on artist to watch lists by Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and CMT, as well as an ACM New Male Artist of the Year nomination in 2023. On The Back of My Dreams, Dean’s sophomore album, continued to provide fuel for a combustive live show; it also delivered the No. 1 “Heavens To Betsy” from a project American Songwriter deemed a “near-perfect follow up.” The hard-charging performer, who has opened for headliners including Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn and Brothers Osborne, as well as conquering Europe, Australia and New Zealand on his headlining tour, is now stepping into new territory both sonically and lyrically. His third studio album, Magnolia Sage, was released earlier this year to critical acclaim. A stellar collection of songs that move from sweeping to soothing, rocking to ruminative, the 11-track project creates a sound that is singularly Jackson Dean: alive, vital, frisky, sexy and rugged. More new music from Dean is expected soon.
For more information and tour dates, visit jacksondeanmusic.com.

Choir! Choir! Choir!

“Why see a show when you can BE the show!?”

Choir! Choir! Choir! is the fully interactive, participatory show that turns audience into performer! So get ready to laugh, dance and SING! your hearts out with hundreds of other music-lovers just like you. It’s like a big birthday party for the greatest songs of all time and you’re invited!

So grab a friend (or ten), and come out ready to GIVE IT ALL YOU’VE GOT! - all voices welcome, no experience necessary. They Teach, You Sing! Everyone Wins!

This time, Choir!Choir!Choir! Presents: Landslide: An EPIC Fleetwood Mac Sing-Along

Nothing feels better than belting out song like these with a room full of Fleetwood Mac fans! Channel your inner Stevie Nicks, grab your best friends and frenemies, and create harmonies that you won’t believe! Landslide: An EPIC Fleetwood Mac Sing-Along will be the most fun you’ve had in years…

Since 2011, Choir! Choir! Choir! directors Daveed Goldman + Nobu Adilman have blurred the lines between performer and audience, traveling the world to create harmony with strangers and friends alike. They’ve collaborated with renowned artists like Patti Smith, David Byrne, Brandi Carlile, Rick Astley, Rufus Wainwright, and even Kermit The Frog at New York’s Lincoln Center, creating memorable videos that have garnered views in the millions. Now it’s your turn to SING!, so grab your friends, get your tickets and we’ll C! you there! #NeverStopSinging

​​Social Links - 

Website

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube 

TikTok

Twitter

Born in Greensboro, NC to a musical family, Fribush began his professional career at a young age, playing a variety of instruments including Steel Pan and Banjo. “To me, Fribush epitomizes the old soul with a youthful spirit. Having grown up immersed in the sounds of everything from Dr. John to Tommy Jarrell, his musical sensibility has an incredibly intuitive flow, and his touch on the piano has always been beautifully unique. With that much natural talent, he wouldn’t necessarily have had to push himself to the limits he has, and it’s been a wonder to witness his evolution into one of the greatest working organ and keyboard players today. His sincerity cuts straight through every note he plays, with a heartfelt smile and mischief-tinged eyes, and his presence in any room feels like a big hug.”

In 2017, Fribush graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a degree in Contemporary Improvisation. During that time he worked with influential mentors like Ran Blake, and Jason Moran.

Following his time in Boston, Fribush was living in New Orleans playing nightly at historic venues like Preservation Hall, the Maple Leaf and the Spotted Cat. In 2020 when quarantine hit, Fribush decided to move back home where he was introduced to Charlie Hunter. They quarantined together in Greensboro, NC working on music and organ trio repitoire. In March of 2021, Fribush debuted the Sam Fribush Organ Trio with two volumes of music produced by Charlie Hunter. Later that year Fribush started playing keys (organ and piano) with Hiss Golden Messenger.

Fribush has recently produced, recorded and written music with Charlie Hunter, Adam Deitch (Lettuce, Break Science), Ari Teitel (Dumpstaphunk, the Rumble), Butcher Brown, Corey Fonville and more.

Fribush released his sophomore record ‘People Please’ in March of 2024 and his fourth studio album ‘Another Side of the Sound’ in May of 2025.

It’s hard to imagine a band just coming into their own after 20 years of success, but that’s exactly what makes a true anomaly. Gaelic Storm, a multi-national, Celtic juggernaut grows stronger with each live performance, and after two decades and over 2000 shows, they are a true force to be reckoned with.

The band attributes their continued success to their fanatic audience, and it’s a well-diversified crowd for sure – attracting fans of every genre with their rich
storytelling, energetic instrumentals, devotion to Celtic traditions and passion for their stagecraft. They are as loyal to their fans as the fans are to them, as front man Patrick Murphy states, “The fans are the ones that have given us this life. We’re here for them.”

Gaelic Storm takes a true blue-collar, hard-nose approach to touring, consistently traveling the US and internationally forging a unique path in the Celtic music world. “You have to see us live. We are the true working-man’s’ band,” says longtime member Ryan Lacey. “We still, and most likely always will, tour most of the year, and that’s how we constantly hone our craft.”

This dedication to their live show dates all the way back to the mid-1990s, when Gaelic Storm kicked off its’ career as a pub band in Santa Monica, California. One which performance led to their discovery that ultimately found the band appearing in the blockbuster film, Titanic (where they performed “Irish Party in Third Class”). This laid the groundwork for a career that would eventually find them topping the Billboard World Chart six times, making appearances at mainstream music festivals, and regularly headlining the largest Irish Festivals across the country, all while gaining a reputation as a genre-bending Irish rock band whose songs mix Celtic traditions with something uniquely creative.

Recent years have seen the addition of Natalya Kay on fiddle and Parker Hastings on guitar, who both bring their own energy, musicianship and spirit to Gaelic
Storm.

THE WOOD BROTHERS
Dubbed "masters of soulful folk" by Paste, The Wood Brothers formed after brothers Chris and Oliver Wood pursued separate musical careers for 15 years. Chris already had legions of devoted fans for his incomparable work as one-third of Medeski Martin & Wood, while Oliver’s band King Johnson built a loyal following in the South. With drummer Jano Rix added as a permanent third member, The Wood Brothers have evolved into one of roots music’s most revered acts, playing sold out shows across North America, garnering a Grammy Award nomination and releasing nine studio albums, including their most recent release, Puff of Smoke.

Amelia Day

It took a world-shaking breakup for Amelia Day to find her true sound — and herself. She embraces the full range of her influences with "EGO TRIP," a genre-bending EP stacked high with alt-rock guitars, pop hooks, swooning keyboards, and the sharp songwriting of a lifelong storyteller. Inspired by the sudden collapse of a college romance, "EGO TRIP" finds room for anger, liberation, and healing, with Amelia nodding not only to the folk music she discovered as a child in the Pacific Northwest, but also the electrifying empowerment of her favorite 1990s frontwomen. The result is a collection of melody-driven songs that breathe new life into classic sounds, largely written in her adopted hometown of Nashville and recorded at Bear Creek Studio in her home state of Washington. With "EGO TRIP," Amelia Day creates her own geography.

Trae Crowder first gained international attention (or notoriety depending on your politics) in 2016 for his hugely viral series of “Liberal Redneck” comedic “porch rant” videos. Since then, Trae has written a best-selling book, The Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Draggin Dixie Outta The Dark, toured the country thrice over playing sold out theatre shows under the WellRED Comedy Tour banner, appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO), Nightline (ABC), The View, Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell (MSNBC),
NPR, WTF with Marc Maron, MTV, CNN, Huffington Post and in the Veronica Mars reboot, as “Chattanooga Charlie”, among many others.

Initially from rural Celina, TN, Trae now lives in Los Angeles, CA and has developed and sold five scripted pilots for Warner Bros TV, ABC, and FOX and continues to work as a writer. Trae stars in and produces regular sketches for Comedy Central, Funny or Die, ATTN, Facebook Watch, New York Daily News which have garnered tens of millions of views online. Crowder also co-wrote and produced an hour-long documentary titled Inherent Good, featuring Crowder and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, about universal basic income.

Additionally, Trae co-hosts the hugely popular “WellRED,” “Evening Skews” and “Puttin’ On Airs” podcasts. His debut 30-minute standup comedy special was taped in 2021 in Nashville, TN and his latest full-length special “Trash Daddy” is available now on YouTube. He also continues to rant and rave on theinternet to the mostly-delight of his lovely fanbase.

Beginnings - A Celebration of the Music of Chicago brings the magic of a live Chicago performance to
life and exceptionally recreates their enormous songbook of contemporary hits.
The music of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Chicago spans more than five decades and includes
five # 1 albums and over 20 top-ten hits. The band transports the listener back to a time of big arena
concerts with all the sound, excitement, and emotion generated from Chicago's extensive catalog of gold
and platinum recordings.

Beginnings has one of the most entertaining live performances you can see today. Expect a family-
friendly entertainment event that is pleasing to music lovers of all ages!

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: Beginnings, Make Me Smile, 25 or 6 to 4, Call on Me, Saturday in the Park, Old Days,
You're the Inspiration, Alive Again, Color My World, Just You and Me, I've Been Searchin' So Long, Free,
Hard to Say I'm Sorry, and many, many more!

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.beginningslive.com 
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/BeginningsTributeBand
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/beginningstribute/
TWITTER: twitter.com/Beginnings_Live
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/channel/UC5525O46vGYWFlpxIkg1xvw

Early Years

Uwe Kruger was born in Germany in 1961, followed by his brother Jens in 1962. The family moved to Switzerland, where music was a central part of their daily life. From an early age, the brothers played guitar and other instruments. Influenced by artists like Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, and Bill Monroe, they performed their first public show in 1973.

​

Teenage Years

After their mother’s passing in 1974, they moved to Zürich and formed a skiffle band. By the age of 12, Jens was already playing banjo with various bands. In 1976, they discovered Strictly Instrumental by Flatt & Scruggs, which inspired them to focus on bluegrass. In 1979, they became traveling street musicians across Europe and later formed the band Rocky Road with the Galfano Brothers. CBS Records signed them in 1981. However, musical differences led them to split in 1982—Uwe pursued country music, while Jens moved to the U.S., where he performed with bluegrass legend Bill Monroe before returning to Switzerland.

​

Reuniting

In 1987, Uwe and Jens reunited and formed Appalachian Barn Orchestra, blending bluegrass with European influences. Their music gained popularity, and in 1990, bassist Joel Landsberg joined, marking the transition to The Kruger Brothers. They hosted a live radio show on Swiss National Radio and toured extensively, performing over 250 shows per year. Their reputation grew across Europe, and they became known for their virtuosic musicianship and unique sound. By 1995, they decided to dedicate themselves entirely to The Kruger Brothers, canceling other commitments and founding their own recording studio to produce and release their music independently.

​

Back in the USA

In 1997 Uwe, Jens, and Joel were invited to play at MerleFest in North Carolina. They were so well received in their festival debut, that MerleFest has invited the Kruger Brothers back to the festival every year since. Notlong after MerleFest, Kruger Brothers management organized extensive tours throughout the US beginning in the fall of 1997.

After five years of playing almost six month out of the year in the US, it was time tomake the decision to either abandon the US market or relocate the entire Kruger Brothers organization to the US.

In 2003 Uwe, Jens, and Joel moved their business and their families to North Carolina.

The Kruger Brothers have since released more than twenty-five CD's on their own label.They have performed with numerous symphony orchestras, string ensembles, andguest musicians on their extensive touring schedule throughout the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia.

The Kruger Brothers are members of the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame, the Wilkes County Hall of Fame, the International Banjo Hall of Fame, as well as the American Folk Music Hall of Fame.

Both Uwe and Jens are honorary citizens of North Carolina and Calgary,Canada.

​

The Kruger Brothers have received numerous awards including the Steve Martin Prize for excellence in banjo and bluegrass, several IBMA nominations, PrixVallo and many more...

The Kruger Brothers are a true staple of the American music scene and continue to bring excellence to audiences worldwide.

THE WIZARDS OF WINTER bring their musical intensity, stage theatrics and holiday fun toThe Harvester, in this fun-filled Christmas Holiday Rock experience for the Whole Family. THE WIZARDS OF WINTER,including members who have performed with The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Def Leppard,Trixter, Blue Oyster Cult, Alice Cooper,along with Broadway veterans, perform their Holiday Rock Operatitled “The Christmas Dream”. Join them on a musical journey in search of the meaning of Christmas.This 12-member ensemble boasts soaring vocal harmonies, precision string instrumentation, powerful percussion, and stunning keyboard work, layered around a rich storyboard that evokes memories and emotions of December’s past! From rock and pop, to ballads, and even a visit from Mrs. Claus – there is something for everyone! Don’t miss their electrifying performance, captivating audiences of all ages.

“A band ought to have a sound all of its own.  It ought to have a personality.” – Glenn Miller

Alton Glenn Miller was born in Clarinda, Iowa on March 1, 1904. But it was in North Platte, Nebraska, several years later that Glenn actually got his musical start when, one day, his father brought home a mandolin. Glenn promptly traded it for an old battered horn, which he practiced every chance he got. In fact his mother worried, “It got to where Pop and I used to wonder if he’d ever amount to anything.”

In 1923, Miller entered the University of Colorado, although he spent more time traveling to auditions and playing where and whenever he could. After flunking three of his five courses one semester, Glenn dropped out to concentrate on his career as a professional musician.

He toured with several orchestras and ended up in Los Angeles where he landed a spot in Ben Pollack’s group, a band that included a guy named Benny Goodman. Here, Miller also got the chance to write some arrangements. Arriving in New York City, he soon sent for, and married his college sweetheart, Helen Burger in 1928, and for the next three years, earned his living as a free-lance trombonist and arranger.

Miller played and recorded with the likes of Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey (who on several of their records, featured an up-and-coming singer by the name of Bing Crosby), Gene Krupa, Eddie Condon and Coleman Hawkins. In addition, during that time, Glenn cut 18 sides for Goodman, and also worked for radio studio conductors like Victor Young, Carl Fenton and Jacques Renard. In 1934, Miller became the musical director of the Dorsey Band, and later went on to organize The Ray Noble Orchestra, which included such players as Charlie Spivak, Peewee Erwin, Bud Freeman, Johnny Mince, George Van Eps and Delmar Kaplan, among others.

In April 1935, Glenn Miller recorded, for the first time, under his own name. Using six horns, a rhythm section and a string quartet, he recorded “Moonlight on the Ganges” and “A Blues Serenade” for Columbia. But selling only a few hundred records, he continued his position with the Noble Orchestra.

In 1937, Glenn Miller stepped out to form his own band. There were a few recordings — one for Decca and one for Brunswick — a couple of week-long stints in New Orleans and Dallas, and many one-nighters, but it was not to be. Though the group would play one more date several days later in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Glenn gave his men their final notice on New Year’s Eve at the Valencia Ballroom in York, Pennsylvania. Broke, depressed and having no idea what he was going to do, he returned to New York City.

It is said that Miller could never remember precisely the moment he decided to emphasize his new reed section sound. But it was during this disheartening interim, that he realized the unique sound — produced by the clarinet holding the melodic line while the tenor sax plays the same note, and supported harmonically by three other saxophones — just might be the individual and easily recognizable style that would set his band apart from all the rest.

Formed in March 1938, the second Glenn Miller Orchestra — which would later include the likes of Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, Ray Eberle, Paul Tanner, Johnny Best, Hal McIntyre, and Al Klinck — soon began breaking attendance records all up and down the East Coast. At the New York State Fair in Syracuse it attracted the largest dancing crowd in the city’s history. The next night it topped Guy Lombardo’s all-time record at the Hershey Park Ballroom in Pennsylvania. The Orchestra was invited by ASCAP to perform at Carnegie Hall with three of the greatest bands ever — Paul Whiteman, Fred Waring and Benny Goodman — and created more of a stir than any of them.

There were record-breaking recordings, as well, such as “Tuxedo Junction”, which sold 115,000 copies in the first week. “In the Mood”, and “Pennsylvania 6-5000?, all appearing on the RCA Victor Bluebird label. In early 1940, Down Beat Magazine announced that Miller had topped all other bands in its Sweet Band Poll, and capping off this seemingly sudden rise to the top, there was, of course, Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” radio series for Chesterfield cigarettes which aired three times a week over CBS.  In 1941, it was off to Hollywood where the band worked on its first movie, “Sun Valley Serenade”, which introduced the song — and soon-to-be million selling record –”Chattanooga Choo Choo”, and featured the Modernaires and the Nicholas Brothers. Then came “Orchestra Wives”. But the war was starting to take its toll on many of the big bands as musicians, and the rest of country’s young men, began receiving draft notices.

On October 7, 1942, Alton Glenn Miller reported for induction into the Army and was immediately assigned to the Army Specialist Corps. His appointment as a Captain came after many months of convincing the military higher-ups that he could modernize the army band and ultimately improve the morale of the men. His training complete, he was transferred into the Army Air Corps, where he ultimately organized the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. Miller’s goal of entertaining the fighting troops took another year to be realized, but in late 1943 he and the band were shipped out to England.

There, in less than one year, the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band engaged in over 800 performances. Of these, 500 were broadcasts heard by millions. There were more than 300 personal appearances including concerts and dances, with a gross attendance of over 600,000. But Glenn was not to participate in the final six months of these activities.

In the Fall of 1944, the band was scheduled to be sent on a six-week tour of Europe and would be stationed in Paris during that time. Miller decided to go ahead, in order to make the proper arrangements for the group’s arrival. And so, on December 15th, Glenn Miller boarded a transport plane to Paris, never to be seen again.

In his book “Glenn Miller & His Orchestra”, George Simon wrote this about the man. “His favorite author was Damon Runyon. His favorite book was the Bible. Spencer Tracy and Olivia de Havilland were his favorite movie actor and actress. His big loves were trout fishing, playing baseball, listening to good music, sleep and money. His pet hates were bad swing, early-morning telephone calls (he liked to sleep from 4 a.m. to noon), and the phrase ‘goodbye now’. His favorite quotation, one he stated, was not from the Bible, nor from Runyon, but from Duke Ellington: ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got that Swing!’