The Pulse of Entertainment: ‘The Glenn Miller Orchestra: 80th Anniversary of The Army Air Force Band' Album Release
(April 23, 2024) - "We (The Glenn Miller Orchestra) have this album...been
working on it for a while," said Erik Stabnau, music director of The Glenn Miller Orchestra, about
their latest recorded project "The Glenn Miller Orchestra: 80th Anniversary of The Army Air Force Band" (Hindsight
Records) featuring Grammy winning Crystal Gayle (Grand Ole Opry member).
"The
Glenn Miller Orchestra..." project offers 15 classic tracks which includes "Sentimental Journey" featuring
Crystal Gayle ("Brown Eyes"). The Glenn Miller Orchestra reached a milestone when awarded a Gold Record in 1942
for "Chattanooga Choo Choo." Miller's orchestra is the only Big Band era orchestra still on tour. The orchestra
performs over 100 dates a year.
"The producer got in touch," Erick said when I asked how they come to have the Hollywood
Walk of Famer Crystal Gayle on the album. "He has some kind of connection or relationship. They are both based in Nashville."
Miller was an American patriot who brought the country together during the darkest hours
of World War II. He was a well-known big band conductor, arranger, composer, trombonist and recording artist at the time (Glenn
Miller and His Orchestra from 1939 - 1942) when he decided to serve in World War II as an officer of the US Army Air Forces.
While serving Glenn Miller formed the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra. Just two years later in 1944 he disappears
when his transport plane to Paris never arrives. A year later in 1945 he was declared dead.
"It took a little over a year or more in the studio," Erik said about the making of the 80th anniversary
album. "We recorded Crystal's vocals on top. She sang beautifully!"
After
learning that The Glenn Miller Orchestra had been constantly on tour since he formed it, I asked about that and Erik said
with a slight laugh, "Yes, we tour all the time! The band is active. We have another one coming up."
Glenn
Millers' music has been performed by Swing bands, Jazz bands and Big Bands since his passing. The orchestra was reorganized
in 1956. They have been performing annually in Japan since 1964. Fast forward 80 years later the Miller Estate is keeping
the Glenn Miller legacy alive with The Glenn Miller Orchestra, lead by music director Erik Stabnau. The orchestra is owned
and operated by Glenn Miller Productions, Inc. under license from the Glenn Miller Estate. Their road-book of selections consist
of 300! Its' library includes 1,700 compositions that include originals from his civilian and Army Air Force bands.
"I joined
the band in 2017 as a saxophonist," Erik told me when asked about how he became the director of the renowned Glenn Miller
Orchestra. "I've been director for 2 ½ years, since 2020. During the pandemic people were in and out of the band.
I stepped up. I sing in the band too. I emulate the 1940's singing. It was a great era....Frank Sinatra... It's (The Glenn
Miller Orchestra) the embodiment of that era."
Originally The Glenn Miller Orchestra was built around the tenor sax
playing the melody, so Erik's instrumental role in the orchestra was major when in joined in 2017. Stabnau is a native New
Yorker (Western) who earned a bachelor's from Eastman School of Music in music in Jazz and contemporary media and a master's
from Syracuse University in audio arts. His work as a bandleader throughout the Northeast ended with him joining The Glenn
Miller Orchestra in 2017 as a tenor saxophonist. He went on to perform throughout the country and abroad in Canada and Japan.
Just three years later he is now music director of the most famous orchestra in the world. www.GlennMiller.com www.CrystalGayle.com www.HindsightRecords.com
SYNDICATED
COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The
Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations and Business Management Strategist and Consultant at
Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com EVENTS: "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference (ULMII),
founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 25th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday
April 20, 2024, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los
Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 9 2024. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference
offering a Professional Industry Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National
Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $19,000
valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.comor to RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email info@ThePulseofEntertainment.com.
