Tribute to Glenn Miller and Tex Beneke

Experience the 14-piece Tex Beneke Orchestra’s dazzling showcase of big band classics from Glenn Miller’s "In The Mood" and "Little Brown Jug" to the timeless swing tunes "Pennsylvania 6-5000" and "Tuxedo Junction." The evening also stars long time host of Hollywood Squares Peter Marshall who started his long career in Television and on Broadway as a big band singer, plus the award-winning String of Pearls vocal group who mix contemporary jazz stylings with memorable big band vocal numbers including "Chatanooga Choo Choo" and "Kalamazoo" to complete this talented collection of performers celebrating the big band era.

Tex Beneke became the Glenn Miller band’s signature vocalist and tenor sax lead, playing an important part of the success of Glenn Miller’s Orchestra through the mid forties. During this time the band had a string of hits including the first ever Gold Record with Tex singing vocals on "Chattanooga Choo Choo". In December of 1944 Major Glenn Miller’s plane vanished over the English Channel and Tex was asked to take over the band by Glenn Miller’s estate. The Tex Beneke-led Glenn Miller Band attracted an immediate following, playing Miller arrangements from both the hitmaking and military years, as well as new charts by Henry Mancini and other arrangers. Tex Beneke and the Miller estate severed ties in 1950 and the Tex Beneke Orchestra was formed. Beneke continued to tour with his orchestra through the decades re-creating the music made famous by Glenn Miller and himself until he passed away in May of 2000. In 1996 he was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame. The Tex Beneke Orchestra is currently under the direction of Jim Snodgrass who has toured with the orchestra for 21 years and has led the band for past 16 years in venues across the country. Jim has performed with such performers as the Beach Boys, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.