In The Mood...

December 15, 1944

Major Glenn Miller's Norseman arrives as scheduled in Paris, and Miller survives the war, to return as a national treasure.

Given his overwhelming popularity and the sheer dominance of the Miller Band, could his survival have lead to continued dominance of the big band sound? Might he have delayed or even prevented the rise of rock and roll as a popular musical idiom?
 
Glenn Miller

Now, I don't know much about Big Band, because that is way before my time, but, if he was that good, he may have been such a big influence on other musicians that would have done similar music, and might have delayed Rock and Roll.

However, things run in cycles in the music industry, and I think that Rock and Roll or something similar would eventually have it's time. But, the acts may have been different. And, it could have butterflied away some untimely deaths, like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens.
 
I can picture rock starting up, but with big band influences in addition to the Rhythm and Blues and Country/Western influences.
 
Top