The state of Iowa has produced some real swell folks, from Lee DeForest, the little known 20th century inventor with more than 180 patents to his name, born in Council Bluffs, to William Frawley, Fred Mertz, of I Love Lucy fame, born in Burlington. Yes, Iowa has given birth to quite a few worthies who have then pressed forward to leave their indelible mark in the world.
Glenn Miller Birthplace, Clarinda, Iowa
Perhaps after John Wayne, Glenn Miller 1904-1944) is its most famous native son. The noted big band leader became a symbol of American patriotism and loyalty when he died in an airplane crash, on his way to entertain U.S. troops, December 15, 1944.
Alton Glenn Miller was born on a farm here in Clarinda, Iowa (population 5,690 at the 2000 census), March 1, 1904. For more than three decades the town has honored his legend and musical aptitude at the annual Glenn Miller Festival, held the second weekend in June. Clarinda is the county seat of Page County. It does not look altogether much different in 2010 than it does in the circa 1930s, faded sepia photographs and postcards that line the windows of its downtown businesses.
Miller’s life and legacy started in Clarinda, but he and his family lived there for only a few years. Following grade school in rural Nebraska, the family relocated to Grant City, Missouri. Before he was even a teenager, Miller had collected enough money from milking cows and farm errands to buy his first trombone. He uncannily took to the magical instrument, playing it as part of a town ensemble.
Miller's senior year of high school, he formed his own troupe, a slick coterie which duplicated the innovative sounds of contemporary dance bands. In 1921, he graduated high school, all but certain that he wanted to become a professional entertainer. His passion eventually sowed dividends as Miller, along with several others bandleaders, helped develop the contagiously energetic Big Band sound of the 1930s and 1940s. Miller cultivated a singular sound with a high-pitched clarinet and he constructed a series of hits.
Prior to World War II, the Glenn Miller Orchestra was one of America's most listened to dance bands. During the period of 1939-1942, he dominated popular music with melodies that are now treated as honored standards of American music – and culture, such as Tuxedo Junction, In the Mood and Moonlight Serenade.
Glenn Miller Birthplace Society
The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society began in 1976 and today has around 1,500 members in 24 countries, including Japan, which started a branch in 1993. In 1989, Miller’s daughter, Jonnie Dee, purchased the modest, cozy, two-story birthplace of her famous father; the home is adjacent to a plot of land that will one day become the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum. The museum, scheduled for completion in late 2010, will feature exhibits, music archives, a library and a theatre. Groundbreaking took place last year thanks to many local, national, and international grants and donations.
Brian D'Ambrosio - Brian D'Ambrosio is the author of more than 500 published articles and seven books, including From Haikus to Hatmaking: A Year in the Life ...
