Gordon Lee "Tex" Beneke was an American saxophonist, singer, and bandleader. His career is a history of associations with bandleader Glenn Miller and former musicians and singers who worked with Miller. His band is also associated with the careers of Eydie Gormé, Henry Mancini and Ronnie Deauville. Beneke also solos on the recording the Glenn Miller Orchestra made of their popular song "In The Mood" and sings on another popular Glenn Miller recording, "Chattanooga Choo Choo". Jazz critic Will Friedwald considers Beneke to be one of the major blues singers who sang with the big bands of the early 1940s.
Shep Fields and Beneke, Glen Island Casino, New Rochelle, N.Y., May 16, 1947. Photograph by William P. Gottlieb.
Alton Glen "Glenn" Miller was an American big band conductor, arranger, composer, trombone player, and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the US Army Air Forces. His civilian band, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra were one of the most popular and successful bands of the 20th century and the big band era. His military group, the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra, was also popular and successful.
Miller c. 1942
The Glenn Miller Orchestra
1939 Baltimore Hippodrome Ballroom concert poster.
First gold record award for "Chattanooga Choo Choo" presented to Miller by W. Wallace Early of RCA Victor with announcer Paul Douglas on far left, February 10, 1942