Glenn Miller is recognized as one of the greatest big band musicians of all time. But, we all have to start somewhere, and sometimes those starts arent so great. Like so many of the big names of the big band era, Miller started out as a side man [and, like so many, first became famous with the Ben Pollack group beginning in 1926]. And, like so many, he became quite a respected studio musician, as well as an arranger. A Blues Serenade was the first recording Miller made under his own name, recorded on 25 April 1935. This first band was a flop, and it wasnt until 1938 that he would try it again, by which time he had perfected what came to be known as the Miller Sound. Vocalist on the recording is Smith Ballew, who was from Palestine, Texas. Ballew was a very prolific studio vocalist from the mid-1920s through the late 30s. In addition, he led his own band for a while and was also an actor in several singing cowboy movies in the 30s and 40s. https://youtube/watch?v=vkUetkwX6fQ
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 04:30:37 +0000
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