Glenn Miller Will Return to the Thousand Oaks Civice Arts Plaza, 3/7

The legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra has been performing hits from the Big Band era since the 1930s. After playing the trombone obsessively as a child, Glenn Miller toured with several orchestras. In 1938, Miller formed the band that would eventually come to define the Glenn Miller sound. The unique orchestration, which features the clarinet playing the melody and saxophones providing the harmonic support, has given the Orchestra its trademark sound for now over 70 years.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra broke attendance records up and down the East Coast in its early years. At the New York State Fair in Syracuse, it attracted the largest dancing crowd in the city's history. The next night it topped Guy Lombardo's all-time record at the Hershey Park Ballroom in Pennsylvania. The Orchestra was later invited by ASCAP to perform at Carnegie Hall with three of the greatest bands of the time.

The Orchestra had many record breaking recordings, such as "Tuxedo Junction," which sold 115,000 copies in the first week, "In the Mood" and "Pennsylvania 6-5000," all appearing on the RCA Victor Bluebird label. In 1941, the Orchestra went to Hollywood where the band worked on its first movie, Sun Valley Serenade, which introduced the song "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and went on to sell millions of copies.

On October 7, 1942, Miller reported for induction into the Army and was immediately assigned to the Army Air Corps where he ultimately organized the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band to entertain the fighting troops. In the fall of 1944, the band scheduled a six-week tour of Europe and would be stationed in Paris. On December 15th, Miller boarded a transport plane to Paris, never to be seen again.

The current iteration of the Orchestra was formed in 1956 and features some of the best jazz musicians from around the country.

Single tickets are priced at $44-$29 with group discounts available. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or through the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard. For more information call 805-449-ARTS (2787) or visit www.civicartsplaza.com.