A dance big band leader synonymous with jazz's swing era, Glenn Miller's
influence and popularity was at its height when he was presumed dead after his
plane disappeared over the English Channel during the Second World War. Brought
up on a farm in Iowa, Miller first started playing trombone in the local town
orchestra, becoming interested in dance band music while still at school. He
eventually dropped out of university to concentrate on music and, after playing
with various bands, he co-wrote his first composition Room 1411 with Benny
Goodman, and released it as a single. In 192...