Glenn Miller’s presence in Shreveport 80 years in the making

Shreveport Opera’s signature fundraiser, An Evening with the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, was 80 years in the making – starting with Glenn Miller’s rise to fame in the 1930s and 40s, guided by a fateful friendship forged in the 1970s, and ending in a swinging dance party that provides needed support to the local opera.

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1930s and 40s - Glenn Miller and the Swing Era

The road to Shreveport began with the height of the Swing Era in the 1930s and 40s when bandleader Glenn Miller gained popularity with the fans. He led swing dancers to hop to Bugle Call Rag and sway to the romantic Moonlight Serenade and tap toes to other timeless classics.

“Glenn Miller was the big rock star of his day,” said George Reinert, first trombone and stage manager of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. “That type of music, swing and big band music was the top music of the day and he was pretty much number one.”

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The Glenn Miller Orchestra took off in 1938 and was disbanded by Miller in the name of patriotism during World War II. In 1942, Miller volunteered for the Army and formed the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. He would earn the title Major Miller during this time.

“Glenn Miller at the height of his popularity decided he wanted to be a part of the war efforts so he folded up the incredibly successful band and joined the military,” Reinert said. “He put together bands of the same sort of popularity of the times to help raise funds in the States as well as heighten the morale of the troops.”

But a tragic event caused the music to halt to a stop.

In 1944, Miller flew a single engine plane across the English Channel on his way to a performance in France. He was never seen again and was officially declared dead a year later.

“It froze his popularity in place with that generation. He was already the number one band and he remained number one in their hearts musically, so that kept the band going for a long time,” Reinert said. “Plus, their children — a whole other generation — grew up to their parents listening to it so there’s really fond memories for them.”

1950s - the revival of Glenn Miller

The band was on hiatus until the debut of the major motion picture “The Glenn Miller Story” featuring Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson in 1954.

Ray McKinley revived the band as the unofficial bandleader in 1956 and kept the orchestra touring and the crowds jumping and jiving.

“There was enough interest that they started it up and it’s been going very strong since 1956, working every year, all year long,” Reinert said.

1973 - when a high school friendship would bring Glenn Miller Orchestra to Shreveport

As the Glenn Miller Orchestra played on over the next couple of decades, Reinert and Steve Aiken, Shreveport Opera’s artistic director, were forming a fast friendship at an Anchorage, Alaska high school in 1973. They would eventually become college roommates and lifelong friends.

Their interest in music took them down different paths. Reinert’s took him to Texas where he learned about the orchestra from other friends. he auditioned and was hired as a fulltime musician. What he thought would be a gig for a few years ended up being a 20 year career move.

The 2000s - Glenn Miller, Shreveport meet

Meanwhile, Aiken was building his career in opera and in 2008 moved to Louisiana to work with the Shreveport Opera — a move that would bring Aiken, Reinert and Glenn Miller together.

In 2010, Aiken called on Reinert and the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra to play at the organizations’s annual fundraiser.

Today

It’s a sound one doesn’t hear as often anymore, but the Glenn Miller Orchestra is keeping fans of the classic big band style moving while teaching a new generation the steps. But it’s not always welcomed at first.

“We have young people who come who have never heard that music before and they admit they’ve been dragged along by whomever — some older person,” Reinert said. “They say they’ve never seen anything like it before, but they really turned out to enjoy it and they hope to see something like that again in the future.”

The Opera’s swing dance party has become a tradition to look forward to for many. It’s also an opportunity to make new fans.

“Once people hear it, especially after seeing it live, they really enjoy it and appreciate it,” Reinert said.

This will be the sixth consecutive year the Glenn Miller Orchestra has done the honor of providing the entertainment for the Shreveport Opera’s swing dance party.

Amanda Gouthiere, the opera’s director, said by the first song the dance floor is packed with guests ready to cut a rug with its newest bandleader Nick Hilscher and the 18 musicians on pianos, bass, trumpets, trombones, drums and saxophones.

“Everyone loves swing dancing,” Gouthiere said. “It’s a lot of fun and you don’t even have to know how to swing dance. You just dance however you like to just sit and listen to the wonderful music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.”

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s here — from the 1930s to 2016 and from “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” to “I’ve Got a Girl in Kalamazoo” to Shreveport. Glenn Miller’s music legacy lives on.

“For this kind of music, seeing it live brings a whole other light to it,” Reinert said.

If you go

What: Shreveport Opera presents An Evening with the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra

Where: Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino, 315 Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway, Shreveport

When: 6 p.m., Thursday

Cost: $100 individual (includes seated dinner)

Info: (318) 227-9503 or shreveportopera.com