Location: Sycuan Casino Resort, 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019
Date: Mar 8, 2026 – 4pm
Glenn Miller Orchestra, Sycuan Casino Resort, El Cajon, CA
The initial Glenn Miller Orchestra did not achieve success. It was a complete and utter economic failure. However, Glenn was clear about his aspirations, remained committed to his vision, and worked tirelessly to achieve success.
He established his second band – the one that continues to exist today – in March of 1938. The Glenn Miller Orchestra has been a consistent success ever since.
The iconic Glenn Miller was among the most accomplished dance bandleaders during the Swing Era of the 1930s and 40s. An unparalleled series of hit records, the continuous influence of radio broadcasts, and the appeal at theaters, hotels, and dance pavilions contributed to the growth and maintenance of his popularity.
In 1942, at the peak of its fame, Glenn disbanded his musical group to enlist in the Army. There, he formed and directed the renowned Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. This band traveled to Europe to entertain servicemen, performing numerous live and radio shows. On December 15, 1944, Major Miller departed in a single-engine aircraft from Europe to advance to France with his band, vanishing over the English Channel, and was never seen again. The army officially declared him dead a year later.
Following the release of the significant motion picture The Glenn Miller Story, which starred Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson in 1954, a surge of interest and public demand prompted the Miller Estate to permit the establishment of the current Glenn Miller Orchestra. On June 6, 1956, under the leadership of drummer Ray McKinley, who had assumed the unofficial role of leader of the Army Air Force Band after Glenn’s disappearance, the newly formed Glenn Miller Orchestra held its inaugural concert and has been touring continuously since then. Subsequent leaders have included clarinetists Buddy DeFranco and Peanuts Hucko, trombonists Buddy Morrow, Jimmy Henderson, Larry O’Brien, and Gary Tole, as well as tenor saxophonist Dick Gerhart. Since January 2012, vocalist Nick Hilscher has been at the helm of the band.
Currently, the 18-member ensemble continues to perform many of the original arrangements by Miller, sourced from both the civilian band and the AAFB libraries. Furthermore, it also features some contemporary pieces arranged and performed in the distinctive Miller style and sound. Just as it was during Glenn’s era, the Glenn Miller Orchestra remains the most in-demand big band globally.
Doors: 3PM
Event Start Time: 4PM
Attendees must be 21 years or older to participate in events.
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