In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore one of the most iconic and romantic tunes of the wartime era - Glenn Millerās āMoonlight Serenade.ā They trace the songās evolution from a jazzy instrumental to a timeless anthem of love and longing, and reflect on the life and legacy of bandleader Glenn Miller, from his early days milking cows to buy a trombone, to his meteoric rise with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and his mysterious disappearance over the English Channel in 1944. Along the way, they delve into the technical brilliance behind the āMiller Sound,ā the influence of composer and teacher Joseph Schillinger, and the songās haunting ability to evoke warm summer nights and faraway loves. Lili and Tom also discuss Millerās wartime service, his ambitious efforts to modernise military music, and the immense morale-boosting power of his performances for Allied troops in Europe. The episode is filled with musical gems - from lesser-known early recordings and rival versions by Count Basie, Gene Krupa and Dick Todd, to behind-the-scenes stories of collaborations with the likes of Al Bowlly, the Nicholas Brothers, and Dorothy Dandridge. As always, Lili and Tom share personal memories, historical trivia, and their infectious passion for the music that helped people laugh, cry, and carry on. Don't miss this tender and toe-tapping tribute to a wartime classic and a bandleader whose music still serenades us under the moonlight. REFERENCES Royal Hospital Chelsea https://chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/ Siren Tickets https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/lili-redman-siren Moonlight Serenade (in Sun Valley Serenade 1941) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmvsUo4XnQM Jumpinā Jive - The Nicholas Brothers - Stormy Weather (1943) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8yGGtVKrD8 Sun Valley Serenade (1941) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnfyeup29B0 Chattanooga Choo Choo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDgwsMqF-6k St Louis Blues (as a March) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFR3HMWOQ4A Twinwood Festival https://twinwoodevents.com/ RAF Twinwood Farm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Twinwood_Farm Moonlight Serenade (Sheet Music) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LMNH8TKzo4 Lyceum Theatre / Ballroom http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/LyceumTheatre.htm CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:52 Catch Up 02:25 An Announcement 03:06 M = Moonlight Serenade 04:12 Glenn Miller 10:28 The Nicholas Brothers 13:09 Miller Releases "Moonlight Serenade" 16:47 Miller's Military Service 22:45 Miller's Work in England 27:39 The Tragic Fate of Glenn Miller 30:39 Discussing the Sheet Music 32:24 Discussing the Lyrics and Music 38:21 The Creation of the Miller Sound 42:26 Chart Success and Reception 44:33 Discussing Recordings 45:09 Dick Todd and the Three Reasons 46:00 Jan Savitt: the "The Stokowski of Swing" 46:24 Count Basie (with Helen Humes) 48:00 Gene Krupa 48:15 Our Favourite Recordings? 50:40 Mentioned in Dispatches 51:49 Teaser for Next Episode 52:14 Outro SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at
[email protected]Ā to be "Mentioned in Dispatches". LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify:Ā https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If youāve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if youād leave a review and make sure youāve subscribed and turned on notifications so youāll never miss an episode. Ā