Press Release

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA SWINGS INTO TIBBITS ON AUGUST 25

Date: August 12,2008

COLDWATER, MI—

“The hardest thing in the world is to start an orchestra – and the next hardest, to stop it.” That bit of wisdom was uttered by Hans Richter more than a century ago, but he might very well have been speaking about the Glenn Miller Orchestra which appears at Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, MI, at 7 pm on Monday, August 25.

The first orchestra Glenn Miller formed, however, didn’t make it at all. It was a total and absolute failure. But Glenn knew what he wanted, held to that dedication and relentlessly worked to succeed. He launched his second band in March of 1938, and unlike the first band, it became an enormous success. And it has been a “hit” ever since.

The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all the dance bandleaders back in the Swing era of the 1930s and ’40s. A matchless string of hit records such as “In the Mood,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “A String of Pearls,” “Moonlight Serenade,” “Little Brown Jug,” “Tuxedo Junction,” and “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” the constant impact of radio broadcasts, and the drawing power at theatres, hotels and dance pavilions built and sustained the momentum of his popularity.

Glenn 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 and then on December 15, 1944, Major Miller took off in a single-engine plane from England to precede his band to Paris. The weather was foreboding. Not very confident, he said to the pilot, “Maybe we ought to call this off?” The flight officer ribbed him about his fear of flying, “Do you want to live forever?” He was never seen again.

Now, over sixty years since the public first embraced the successful Miller Sound, both the legend and the music live on. The 19-member Glenn Miller Orchestra formed by the Miller Estate in 1956 is still considered the greatest band of all time; its unique sound is loved by almost anybody who cares for dance music.

The orchestra continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements that keep exciting fans who have not heard them played for a while. They are also playing more modern selections in the big-band style, carefully selecting only those newer tunes that lend themselves naturally to the Miller style and sound. The entire repertoire, which now exceeds 1,700 compositions, keeps the band popular with both young and old.

The Miller sound lives forever! Tickets are $26, $24 for members, and $15 for students. They are available online at www.tibbits.org, by calling 517-278-6029, or at the box office, 14 South Hanchett Street, Coldwater.