Glenn Miller Orchestra Playing at NARA Park

The following is a news release:

The Acton Recreation Department is proud to announce that the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra will be performing a concert on Friday, July 11, 2014 at the NARA Park Amphitheater, 25 Ledge Rock Way in north Acton beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are only $10 per person all ages.  All veterans will receive an American flag lapel pin as a special thank you.  Free parking will be made available onsite.  Secure your ticket now by purchasing in advance at: www.acton-ma.gov/register.

We accept MasterCard or Visa for online purchases.  We anticipate this to be a busy concert and remaining tickets may be purchased at the gate beginning at 6 p.m. Our amphitheater is all lawn seating. Bring your own chairs (we’ll have some available), and blankets.  Coolers and large bags will not be permitted in the Amphitheater.  A food vendor will be onsite offering grilled food and beverages including beer and wine as well as the NARA Amphitheater Snack Bar. 

Glenn Miller disappeared on December 15, 1944.  The bandleader went down over the English Channel on a flight from London to Paris at the height of his popularity.  In September 1942, just prior to going into the army, he had disbanded his famous orchestra and eventually formed the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band to entertain the servicemen.

Not long before he enlisted, he nosed-out Tommy Dorsey, the “Best Sweet Band” in the Downbeat poll.  His recordings of In the Mood, Chattanooga Choo Choo, A String of Pearls, Moonlight Serenade and Tuxedo Junction were all major hit records.  Miller played to sell out crowds, and his music constantly dominated the airways.

On December 15, Major Miller took off in an ancient, single engine plane to precede his band to Paris.  The weather was foreboding.  Not very confident, he said to the pilot, “Maybe we out to call this off?”  The flight officer ribbed him about his fear of flying, “Do you want to live forever?”

Now, over sixty years since the public first embraced the successful Miller Sound, both the legend and the music live on.  The Glenn Miller Orchestra is the most sought after big band in the world today for both concert and dance engagements.  Still considered the greatest band of all time, its unique sound is loved by almost anybody that cares for dance music.

The Miller Estate formed the present Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1956 following strong popular demand aroused as a result of the successful motion picture, an immense box office smash—The Glenn Miller Story, staring James Stewart and June Allyson.  The bad has been touring consistently since, playing an average of 300 live dates a year around the globe to millions of fans.