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Swing, Jazz, and Big Band
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Glenn Miller Band
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•Glenn Miller was a composer, musician, and bandleader during the swing era.
•He was the best-selling record artist from 1939-1943
•Two of his most famous recordings are “Pennsylvania 6-5000”, & “In the Mood”.
•He was criticized for the band’s frequent rehearsals and “letter-perfect playing”.
Critics thought it would take away from the feeling in the performance.
•Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Mel Torme were fans.
•In 1942, at the peak of his career he decided to join the war effor (WW II) and
formed a modernized Army Air Force Band.
•On December 15, 1944, Miller was to fly from the United Kingdom to Paris,
France, to play for the soldiers there. His plane (a single-engined) departed as
scheduled and disappeared while flying over the English Channel. No trace of the
aircrew, passengers or plane has ever been found. Miller's status is "missing in
action". He was born in 1904.
"America means freedom and there's no expression
of freedom quite so sincere as music".-Glenn Miller
Benny Goodman (1909-1986)
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•He was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader, known
as the "King of Swing".
•He was one of 12 children of poor Jewish Immigrants from Russia.
•When Benny was 10 his father enrolled him in music classes and clarinet lessons.
•He was the first Jazz bandleader to perform at Carnegie Hall.
•He later pursued classical clarinet music when Big Band lost popularity in the ‘40s.
•He is also responsible for a significant step in racial integration in America. In the
early 1930s, black and white jazz musicians could not play
together in most clubs or concerts in Southern states, where
Racial segregation was enforced. He hired such musicians as
Teddy Wilson, and Gene Krupa. This integration in music
happened ten years before Jackie Robinson became the first
black American to enter Major League Baseball.
•Voted best jazz clarinetist.
•“Clarinade” and “Sing, Sing, Sing” are two famous songs.
•In 1957 he was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.
•He died of a heart attack at age 77.
Louis Prima (1910-1978)
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•Prima was American singer, actor, songwriter, and trumpeter. Prima rode the
musical trends of his time, starting with his seven-piece New Orleans style jazz
band in the late 1920s, then leading a swing combo in the 1930s, a big band in the
1940s, a Vegas lounge act in the 1950s, and a pop-rock band in the 1960s.
•Louis first learned to play the violin, He became interested in jazz when he heard
black musicians, including Louis Armstrong. He learned to play on his brother’s
old cornet.
•He dropped out of high school and worked diligently until he finally landed some
successful gigs. One of his big breaks fell through because the owner of the jazz
club thought he was a “negro” and refused to hire him.
•Notable works include “Twist all Night”, “Sing, Sing, Sing”
and “Jump, Jive, N’ Wail.”
•He enjoyed horseback
riding and wearing
expensive suits.
•He played the voice of
King Louie in Disney’s
cartoon version of
“The Jungle Book.”
Brian Setzer (born 1959)
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•An American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He first found widespread
success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style rockabilly revival group Stray
Cats, and revitalized his career in the late 1990s with his Swing revival band,
The Brian Setzer Orchestra.
•The Brian Setzer Orchestra has covered such famous big band standards as
“Gettin’ in the Mood”, “Jump, Jive, and Wail”, and “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it
Aint’ Got that Swing”.
•Setzer released one album of entirely original numbers, but the majority of his
recordings are covers of famous big band songs.
Jazz Master
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Female Jazz Vocalists
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Fitzgerald
(1917-1996)
Often referred to as the "First Lady of Song" and the "Queen
of Jazz,“ Recorded 70+ albums, won 13 Grammy s, & was
awarded the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential
Medal of Freedom.
Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002)
Vocalist and actress. Famous for the movie
“White Christmas” and the song “Mambo
Italiano.” Aunt of George Clooney. \
Etta James (1938 – 2012)
Started voice lessons at 5.Her style spanned a variety of
genres including blues, R&B, soul, rock, jazz and gospel. Won
six Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards. She was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Famous for the song “At Last”.
Portrayed by Beyoncé in the movie “Cadillac Records.”
Male Jazz Vocalists
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Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)
Jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans. His artistry and personality
Gave him socially acceptable access to the upper society that were highly
restricted for a black man. His improvisation and scatting influenced the
future of jazz.
Bing Crosby (1903-1977)
One of the best-selling artists of the 20th century. Had a company that built
early recording equipment. His biggest hit was “White Christmas.
Frank Sinatra (1915-1998)
Singer and film actor. Began his career in the swing era. Won 11 Grammys.
Allegedly had ties to the Mafia. Known for “The Way You Look Tonight”,
and “Chicago”.
Nat King Cole (1919-1965)
Jazz pianist. Founder of the King Cole Trio.
One of the first blacks to host a television variety show.
He fought racism all his life, though without being aggressive.