Glenn Miller

Alton Glenn Miller, an American big band leader and trombonist, attended CU Boulder for three semesters before leaving to pursue music. While at CU, he met his future wife, Helen Burger. In the 1940s, the Glenn Miller Orchestra became a defining sound of the swing era, distinguished by Miller’s innovative arrangement combining a clarinet lead with saxophones an octave below. Miller earned the first gold record in 1942 for selling over one million copies of “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and amassed more than 30 gold records, including his signature theme, “Moonlight Serenade.” 

In 1940, Gene Novello, who attended CU Boulder, composed a 12 bar riff which he named “Boulder Buff” after remembering that Miller and his wife both attended CU Boulder. Miller and his orchestra recorded “Boulder Buff” arranged by Fred Norman in 1941. At the height of his fame, Miller  enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942 to modernize military bands and boost morale. His Army Air Force Band performed over 800 times, with more than half of the concerts broadcast to millions worldwide. Tragically, in December 1944, Miller’s plane vanished over the English Channel during a flight to France. Today, CU Boulder serves as the official repository for Glenn Miller memorabilia and archives, preserving the legacy of one of America’s most influential musicians.

Sources: CU Boulder Heritage Center, Glenn Miller Collections, Swing and Beyond