Alton Glenn Miller (March 1, 1904 â disappeared December 15, 1944) Noted for his big band swing music in the 1930âs and specifically the “Glenn Miller Sound,” American jazz musician Alton Glenn Miller entertained troops with catchy toe-tapping beats and sentimental tunes during WWII. His orchestra was one of the most popular during the big band swing era. Miller was an exceptionally talented musician (he played the trombone), arranger, composer, and bandleader.In 1942, he enlisted in the US Army Air Force leaving behind civilian life but not his music. Appointed as a Captain in the Army Specialist Corps, he devoted himself to raising soldiers’ morale by modernizing the army band.In 1944 on December 15th, Miller was flying in a plane from the UK to get to a performance in Paris, France to play for soldiers who had recently liberated Paris. However, the plane disappeared while flying over the English Channel. Presumably, the plane crashed and both pilots and Miller were killed. Miller was 40 years old; his status is Missing in Action (MIA).
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