Here’s a fantastic clip of the Glenn Miller orchestra in the Hollywood movie Sun Valley Serenade 1941 starring John Payne and Sonja Henie.

This is The Glenn Miller Orchestra playing In The Mood – check out Tex Beneke on sax at 1.20. I only signal him out because he was also the band’s vocalist but when you see the other musicians you really get to understand the vitality, the originality and the passion of this music and why Swing was my Mum’s favourite music.

For the fascinating story of Norwegian Sonja Henie, actress, alleged Nazi sympathiser, sex addict, money obsessed, three time Olympic champion figure skater and the tenth richest woman in the world in her day – (phew!) Go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonja_Henie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Miller