[Dixielandjazz] : Glenn Miller Band--query from Randy Fendrick

[Norman Vickers]

To:  DJML and Musicians and Jazzfans lists
From:  Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola

Trombonist Randy Fendrick sends the following query about the Glenn Miller
Band.  (  I Didn't know there was more than one.)  Randy, resident of
Bakersfield, CA,  is retired teacher and co-leader of the Southside Chicago
Seven.
Perhaps someone(s) on either list can enlighten us all!

Permit me one personal anecdote.  I crossed paths with (the late)
clarinetist Peanuts Hucko and asked him about the story that occurred when
Miller's band was in London during the blitz.  Story went that they really
didn't need to be in downtown London and that Miller has asked the US guys
to move them out to quarters in countryside. US transportation guys said
that they'd do it the following week, as this was the weekend and they were
not to be bothered.  Miller then went to the British transportation forces
and they moved them out on Saturday.  On Sunday night, there was a direct
bomb hit on the dormitory where they all would have been sleeping.  Peanuts
was very complimentary of Miller and said that he was very concerned about
all aspects of the band's welfare.

Who can enlighten us on the other Miller bands during WWII?  Other Miller
anecdotes?




-----Original Message-----
From: Randy Fendrick [mailto:jfendrick at bak.rr.com] 
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 2:44 PM
To: F. Norman Vickers
Subject: Glenn Miller Band

Norman-I recently finished reading an autobiography by Carlyle Nelson who
was married to Hilo Hatty and was also a violinist and sax/clarinet player.
During World War II, Nelson indicated that at one time he had been assigned
to one of Glenn Miller's three radio bands, which were located in New York,
Fort Worth and Santa Ana, California.  The New York band in 1943 or 44, was
transferred to London with the Fort Worth band moving to New York.  While it
stands to reason concerning time differences, etc., I had never heard that
where actually three bands with full staffs etc.  Is there anyone in your
group that might be able to shed a little more light on this for me?
Apparently William Holden was one of the actors in the cast for the Fort
Worth band and was replaced by Gene Raymond when Holden went home on leave
for the birth of his child.  Kind of interesting.
Thanks
Randy Fendrick=

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