Bloomington man, 91, former pianist with Glenn Miller touring band, to watch orchestra

Bloomington's own music legend Phil Spaulding, past pianist for the Glenn Miller touring band, just turned 91. Spaulding will be in the audience July 30 as the Buskirk-Chumley Theater presents the Glenn Miller Orchestra .

Concert attendees will recognize Spaulding: "I'll have on my T-shirt that says 'Bobby Vinton,'" Spaulding said over the phone. He used to sub with Bobby Vinton's Glenn Miller band and played full-time for another one. (There were several Glenn Miller bands throughout the country at that time.) "We musicians were always subbing for each other."

Spaulding jingled and rocked the ivories for two of the Glenn Miller bands during the 1970s and among other ventures was also associated with Lawrence Welk and the musical group Asleep at the Wheel , according to Bloomington musician and Spaulding's friend Mark Wiedenmayer.

Wiedenmayer performed with Spaulding in the Don Long Band until 2009. Wiedenmayer remembers when he went to the 2022 county fair "specifically to see Phil Spaulding play." Just for that day the band called itself "Ma Upchurch" and played country tunes with Sheila Stephen as the lead guest vocalist. "Phil (had) just turned 89 and he (was) accurately introduced on stage, Wiedenmayer said, "as a legend on keyboards."

One of the swing era's finest

Glenn Miller was one of the most triumphant dance bandleaders of the 1930s and '40s swing era. Hit records and seemingly constant radio coverage led to the band's ability to attract crowds at hotels, theaters and dances. In 1938 Miller organized The Glenn Miller Orchestra, his second attempt at band-making, and it worked.

The orchestra now has 18 members and does many of Miller's original arrangements, yet also plays more current pieces arranged and performed with the Miller feel.

Miller originated modern U.S. military bands, seen in "The Glenn Miller Story"

The movie "The Glenn Miller Story" (1954) stared Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson. The plot begins with a young Miller fighting to crack the music industry alongside his friend pianist Chummy MacGregor. Miller's victory emerges in big band music — and in falling in love with Helen Burger, whom he married in 1928. Miller is thought to be the originator of modern U.S. military bands.

The film swelled box offices and grabbed theater rentals of more than $7 million, putting it behind only "White Christmas" and "The Caine Mutiny" for the year. Impressed, the Miller Estate permitted the present Glenn Miller Orchestra to form.

Army Maj. Miller disappears in late 1944

In December of 1944, Miller, then an Army major, disappeared. Records show that he was probably a passenger in a UC-64A Norseman. The plane left England heading for France. Miller was going to perform there for Allied troops.

In 1956 under the direction of drummer Ray McKinley (the unofficial leader of the Army Air Force Band after Glenn’s absence) the (new) Glenn Miller Orchestra was reorganized. And the orchestra is still performing.

Additional leaders have followed McKinley, and since 2012, vocalist Nick Hilscher has led the group. Hilscher was the featured vocalist with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from 2005-2011, when he worked with the famous Buddy Morrow, who directed the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from 1977-2010.  Morrow had also directed the Glenn Miller Orchestra from September 1974 to March 1975.

"The Glenn Miller Orchestra was probably one of the first big bands I ever remember hearing as a child," said Buskirk-Chumley's executive director Steve Versaw. "'I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo' will be a highlight, since I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan! Yes, there really is a Kalamazoo."

If you go

WHAT: The Glenn Miller Orchestra, with special audience member Phil Spaulding, past Glenn Miller pianist

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. July 30

WHERE: Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave.

TICKETS: Selling quickly, for $34-$48. Available online at https://buskirkchumley.org, at the box office at 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., or by calling 812-323-3020.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington man, 91, former pianist with Glenn Miller touring band, to watch orchestra