born March 1, 1904, Clarinda, Iowa, U.S.
died Dec. 16, 1944, at sea
U.S. trombonist and leader of one of the most popular dance bands of the swing era.
Miller formed his band in 1937. His music was characterized by the precise execution of arrangements that featured a clarinet leading the saxophone section. Miller disbanded in 1942 to join the war effort by leading a military band. He was traveling from London to Paris by plane when the craft disappeared over the English Channel and was never recovered. His recordings of numbers such as "Moonlight Sonata," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," "In the Mood," and "String of Pearls" are classics of the era.