Glenn Miller Orchestra 80th Anniversary of the Army Air Force Band Newly Recorded with Strings Featuring Crystal Gayle on "Sentimental Journey"

During 1939-42, Glenn Miller led the most popular band in the world. The Glenn Miller Orchestra had more hit records in the Swing Era than anyone else in the jazz world, more than Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, Tommy Dorsey and Harry James combined. During a 3 1/2 year period, Miller released 16 records that were #1 on the charts and 72 that made it to the top ten including 31 in 1940 alone. Miller's music was not only the soundtrack for the World War ll years but is still considered so timeless that bands under his name have performed to enthusiastic audiences during the 80 years since his passing. This album celebrates the 80th Anniversary of Miller's Army Air Force Band, brought to life by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. This is an all-new recording of 15 of Miller's top hits and fan favorites, marking the first recording of his orchestra with a string section. The string conductor was Nashville-based composer, arranger and orchestrator Kristin Wilkinson (Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Taylor Swift and more). While Miller's later Army Air Force Band utilized strings, his classic civilian orchestra never did. In fact, the only record session that Miller led in the United States that included strings was his very first date as a leader from April 25, 1935, four years before he hit it big. The current Glenn Miller Orchestra, headed by Erik Stabnau, keeps an extensive tour schedule as one of the few fulltime big bands on the scene today, booked to perform 96+ dates in 2024 throughout the US.