On February 10 , 1942 , Glenn Miller wasawarded the first - ever Gold Record , for the vocal " Chattanooga Choo Choo . " RCA Victor made the record by taking one of Miller ’s album , paint it gold , and framing it . Theeventcelebrated 1,200,000 sales of the unmarried , released on RCA Victor ’s Bluebird label in 1941 .
" Chattanooga Choo Choo " was a massive hit , and in 1942 Miller was at the height of his vocation , performing with his orchestra to sold - out houses . It was also the height of World War II . Miller was 38 — too old to be draft — but he volunteer for the Army and was apace promoted to captain , then major . ( by the bye , he attempt the Navy first , but they turn him down . )
Miller ’s job in the Army was mainly to provide euphony to the troop , principally within the Air Force . In summation to performing , he modernized the Army Band custom and rewrote a variety of cardinal tunes . After hundreds of carrying into action in the U.S. and abroad , Miller ’s exclusive - railway locomotive plane was lost in 1944 on a flight of steps from England to Paris . He was 40 years old .
But let ’s get back to the good stuff—“Chattanooga Choo Choo " appeared in the 1941 filmSun Valley Serenade , and that functioning is a b - burner . last eight minutes , the " Choo Choo " section starts with the Glenn Miller Orchestra practice the tune , featuring whistling and vocalizing by Tex Beneke , Paula Kelly , and The Modernaires .
Just when you suppose the Sung is over , the camera pans to reveal a 2nd , antecedently unseen readiness — a train station where Dorothy Dandridge andThe Nicholas Brothersappear and do an dainty strain - and - dance figure , while the orchestra continues .
hail for the swinging , rest for the tap . ( If you just want to see the fantastic dance mo have The Nicholas Brothers , I wo n’t find fault you — zip ahead to 4:55 . )
For a bit more on Miller and his gold record - succeed Song dynasty , read thisRhapsody in Booksblog C. W. Post . If you ’ve never meet The Nicholas Brothers before , watch them perform " the greatest terpsichore bit ever filmed . "
( Glenn Miller image , public domain , courtesy of Wikimedia Commons . )
