New York Sheet Music Society

NEWSLETTER

FEATURE STORY

April 2004

(March 13th 2004 meeting)

(left to right:) Don Smith, Wynne Miller,  NYSMS President Linda Amiel Burns, Gary Stevens

Glenn Miller

A 100th Anniversary Tribute
presented by
Gary Stevens
& special guest, Wynne Miller

 At our March 13th meeting, "one of New York's greatest treasures," NYSMS member and "PR agent to the stars," Gary Stevens hosted a most enjoyable program celebrating the March 1st centennial birthday of legendary bandleader, Glenn Miller.  After a brief recap of some of the highlights of Miller's early career (his gigs at The Hotel Pennsylvania's Cafe Rouge, The Paramount Theater, radio broadcasts and five "hit songs") Stevens acknowledged, with understandable pride, that he had been instrumental in presenting three additional tributes to one of our great American musical giants at The Dutch Treat Club, The Friars Club and The Players Club.  The Friars Club, in fact, had made him their first posthumous member.

Gary and his special guest for the afternoon--Glenn Miller's niece and "keeper of the flame," Wynne Miller--supplied a wealth of humorous stories and personal anecdotes which enhanced the carefully chosen music program.  Looking "pretty in pink" and with long-time accompanist Don Smith (now there's a familiar name!), Wynne, a Daisy Mae in Lil' Abner on Broadway, opened with her uncle's signature theme song, "Moonlight Serenade" and moved quicklyl through a medley of his greatest hits..."In the Mood," "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," "Perfidia", "Juke Box Saturday Night,"  "I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo," "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "Serenade in Blue."

She continued with touching renditions of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and "The White Cliffs of Dover," followed by a spirited version of "Pennsylvania 6-5000" which included the complete lyrics.  Next was "Hey, Daddy," with additional lyrics relating to the Broadway show "Lil' Abner," and then a seldom heard German translation of "Begin the Beguine."  She explained that her Austrian-born husband, Rudy Bernatschke, had helped with and improved the translation, and that as a founding member of the Sun Valley Ski Resort, was instrumental in having her uncle's Sun Valley Serenade playing there 24 hours a day!

With stories only an "insider" would know, she recounted how the family was listening the night Glenn Miller enlisted in the Army's Air Corp, and that when he was reported missing, it confirmed the family's psychic prediction and Miller's own premonition of his disappearance.  In addition, according to the family legend, Glenn Miller's mother, Mattie Lou, also questioned why, when accompanying popular crooner Bing Crosby, Bing couldn't "quiet down," so that her Glenn could be heard!

Hoping that "fame just might strike twice" she ended the afternoon's program with "Elmer's Tune," which she has included, along with other Miller hits, on her CD entitled "Winners."

In closing the afternoon's delightful presentation, Gary Stevens read an impressive letter from N.Y.'s Mayor Bloomberg, in which the mayor appropriately pointed out that although his career was cut tragically short, Glenn Miller's music will continue to inspire us for decades to come!  All in all, a wonderful tribute to a musical icon and national hero.