The Crew Chiefs were a
vocal group
A musical ensemble, also known as a music group, musical group, or a band is a group of people who perform instrumental and/or vocal music, with the ensemble typically known by a distinct name. Some music ensembles consist solely of instrume ...
popular in the 1940s, known for accompanying
Tex Beneke,
Glenn Miller
Alton Glen "Glenn" Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band conductor, arranger, composer, trombonist, and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Army Air Forces ...
, and
Ray McKinley.
Member
Artie Malvin co-wrote the song "
I'm Headin' For California" with Glenn Miller in 1944.
Appearances
The name of the group is an allusion to a crew chief in the U.S. Army Air Force. A Crew Chief is responsible for the day to day condition of the military aircraft assigned to them. The group appeared on the ''I Sustain the Wings'' radio broadcasts with Captain Glenn Miller and the Army Air Forces Training Command Orchestra. They also appeared on the V Discs released by the U.S. War Department. After the war, they were part of the Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Tex Beneke.
Their appearances include:
*
Glenn Miller
Alton Glen "Glenn" Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band conductor, arranger, composer, trombonist, and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Army Air Forces ...
and the Army Air Forces Training Command Orchestra (with
Johnny Desmond) – "Moon Dreams" (1944)
*
Glenn Miller Orchestra – "
Have Ya Got Any Gum, Chum?" (1945)
*
Glenn Miller Orchestra (with
Ray McKinley) – "
Chattanooga Choo-Choo" (1944)
*
Glenn Miller Orchestra (with
Johnny Desmond) – "
The Trolley Song" (1945)
*
Glenn Miller Orchestra – "
It's Love-Love-Love" (1944)
*
Glenn Miller Orchestra – "
There Are Yanks" (1944)
*
Glenn Miller Orchestra (with
Tex Beneke) – "
I'm Headin' For California" (1946)
Members
The following singers all had tenure within the group:
*
Bill Conway
*
Murray Kane
*
Gene Steck
*
Steve Steck
*
Artie Malvin
*
Lynn Allison
References
Sources
*Butcher, Geoffrey (1997). ''Next to a Letter from Home.''
*Polic, Edward F. (1989). ''The Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band: Sustineo Alas 2.''
*Simon, George Thomas. (1974). ''Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crew Chiefs
American vocal groups