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Glenn Miller, 70 Years of Mystery

Len Goodman investigates the phenomenon of bandleader Major Glenn Miller, one of the biggest-selling recording artistes between 1939 and 1943.

Len Goodman investigates the phenomenon of Bandleader Major Glenn Miller, one of the biggest selling recording artistes between 1939 and 1943 and who 70 years later, still remains one of the top sellers in the world. Why? Is it because of his romantic music? Or does the mystery that still surrounds his mysterious disappearance on a foggy day 70 years ago in December 1944 draw us like a moth to a flame?

The facts surrounding the meteoric rise and phenomenal success of bandleader Glenn Miller between the years of 1939 and 1944 have been extremely well documented over the years. What is more interesting is why the music of Glenn Miller achieved even greater popularity after World War 11 and has continued to attract new listeners around the world for the last 70 years.

One hugely important factor has to be the mysterious disappearance of Major Glenn Miller whilst on a routine flight to France across the English Channel on December 15th 1944. He took off and simply vanished into the fog.

A heady cocktail of the romantic Miller music laced with nostalgia and a huge dollop of wide-eyed fascination as to what actually happened in that small aircraft on that fateful foggy afternoon 70 years ago must be key to all of this. It is interesting to speculate what Glenn Miller would have gone on to achieve in music and entertainment had he arrived safely in France and continued his career after the war.

57 minutes

Last on

Mon 22 Dec 2014 22:00

Broadcast

  • Mon 22 Dec 2014 22:00