Moonlight Serenade: A Bio-discography of the Glenn Miller Civilian Band

by John Flower, George T. Simon (Introduction)

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554 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange typography -- seems like entirely typewriter type and some very small -- makes this a bit difficult to read, but then again it's not bedtime reading, is it? Truly more of a reference book, and in fact it formerly was in the KC public library's reference collection (not for circulation) but now circulates.

Includes entries for EVERY date the Glenn Miller civilian orchestra played for an audience (live or via radio) or had a recording session. Even includes information on how they got from one place to another, e.g., via what railroad or what bus line. Lists what band members or singers participated in every event, who soloed, who was the composer and/or lyricist and arranger for each song, who was paid for what service and how much, how many admissions were sold at various theaters for what price and how much the band grossed, etc etc etc. A few photos throughout the five or so years and many published reviews of appearances in many towns and some published industry gossip.

Had I the time, I might have been more diligent about matching up the descriptions in the book with some of the many radio appearances that are available on the Wonderful World Wide Web, but I hadn't and I didn't (much).

All-in-all, very interesting, plus somewhat surprising how little the "help" was paid to sing or play and also what a management job it must have been dealing with egos, tempers, drunks, the draft, travel problems, you name it.