Honoring the Miller Legacy

Tom Daugherty performing with the United States Air Force Band of Flight’s Night Flight Jazz Ensemble at the 2011 Glenn Miller concert. Night Flight will present its annual Glenn Miller concert outside the National Museum of the United States Air Force on May 19 at 6 p.m. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Becky Taylor)

Night Flight presents annual tribute to Glenn Miller

Published May 7, 2012
By Master Sgt. Becky Taylor
AF Band of Flight

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The U.S. Air Force Band of Flight's Night Flight Jazz Ensemble will celebrate the heritage of the great American band leader Maj. Glenn Miller in a concert May 19 at 6 p.m. at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

The performance will take place outside the museum's Modern Flight Gallery, and visitors are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. The event is free and open to the public.

Night Flight will revive the distinctive sounds of this famed jazz musician from the swing era by performing Miller's classic tunes such as "In the Mood" and "Moonlight Serenade." Just like the last two years, the band will be led by "The Keeper of the Big Band Flame," Tom Daugherty, Dayton's own Miller-style expert. Daugherty has performed with The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and many great jazz artists, including Maynard Ferguson and Dizzy Gillespie. He acquired his expertise in the Miller style by studying with two original Glenn Miller Orchestra members, Paul Tanner and Norman Leyden.

"Tom Daugherty's appearance with Night Flight for the Glenn Miller show has proven to be a hit. He has been so well-received that we had to bring him back. This collaboration concert promises to take our audience back to when swing was king and Miller was at the top of the charts," said Tech. Sgt. Dave Diamond, Night Flight noncommissioned officer in charge.

This year, Night Flight welcomes special guests, vocalists Mindy Meltzer and Dale Hawley. They will be featured on "A Tisket, A Tasket," "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," and other Glenn Miller favorites.

"The annual outdoor Glenn Miller concert seems to be a true favorite among our military and civilian community," said Teresa Montgomery, chief of the museum's Special Events Division. "The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force appreciates the opportunity to partner with the Air Force Band of Flight to present the classic sounds of the Glenn Miller era to our friends from the Miami Valley and surrounding states."

This program is one in an annual series presented by the Band of Flight at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The next concert in the series is planned for Sept. 11, when the band again performs with music director Neal Gittleman and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.

For more information about upcoming performances by your United States Air Force Band of Flight and to sign up to receive our electronic newsletter, please go to www.bandofflight.af.mil.