American popular music in the war years was heavily influenced by boogie-woogie, as exemplified in the music of Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters.
The video clip above comes from the 1942 film Orchestra Wives and is a performance of that film’s breakout hit song, “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo” by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, with Tex Beneke and the Modernaires on vocals, along with an amazing song-and-dance by the Nicholas Brothers. Note that the Nicholas Brothers’ segment is separate from the rest of the performance. This was done so their dance routine could easily be cut from the film when it was shown in theaters in the American South.
- Listen now:
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening War Theme
Rhapsody in Blue
Composed in 1924 by George Gershwin. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.
Boogie-Woogie Example
Edinburgh in August
Composed in 2021 and performed by Adam Cuerden.
Used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license. Source.
Sheridan Square
Performed by the Airmen of Note of the United States Air Force Band.
Public domain recording. Source.
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.
My favorite saxophone player has always been Johnny Hodges. He caressed his instrument.