Father of American Big Band honoured in musical (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Glenn Miller's life told through his music

7:10am Saturday 19th May 2012 in Freetime By Nick Hitchens

One of the founding fathers of the classic American Big Band sound, Glenn Miller’s chequered career, ending in disappearance over the English Channel, will be recounted in a new musical.

Miller’s name is synonymous with big band music and the nature of his death, in 1944 while flying from England to France, only serves to further immortalise his name.

He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known big bands.

While he was travelling to entertain US troops in France during World War II, Miller disappeared in bad weather over the English Channel. In testament to his immense contribution, UK playwright Den Stevenson set about making a musical about the great band leader.

He honed his unique concept on English soil, then polished and fine-tuned his show on the other side of the Pond, firstly in Virginia and then on Broadway. The show includes 30 songs, featuring such classics as Moonlight Serenade, Chattanooga Choo Choo and In the Mood, among others. Bugle Boy – The Life Story of Glenn Miller will be visiting these shores for the first time, celebrating not only the music but also the man and his quest to find that unique sound.

Bugle Boy – The Life Story of Glenn Miller, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, June 12 to 16, 7.45pm, matinees Thursday/Saturday, 2.30pm.

Tickets £25 to £15, call 020 8688 9291.