WHEN Wendy Smith-Brune travelled to Los Angeles with aspirations of being a classical flautist, she never thought she would end up singing with the re-incarnation of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“It was a bit of a fluke, to be frank. I came to LA straight out of college to play in a symphony but all the chairs were full and would be for a long time,” Smith-Brune said.
“I got impatient and decided to answer some music ads and ended up singing with a group of girls, which was fun.
“My first big job was with Ray Charles. I auditioned and he hired me. But I never thought I would end up singing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
The new generation of the Glenn Miller Orchestra is headed up by Rick Gerber who has been with the group for 14 years.
The orchestra will play at Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre on Saturday, June 6.
This tour is Smith-Brune’s fifth visit to Australia. Last time she was in Bendigo, she performed at The Capital with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
“I remember (Bendigo’s) name very well. It’s a fun sounding name,” she said.
“The last time I visited was last fall and we had something like 54 cities on the tour.”
The orchestra’s tour is a celebration of the centenary of the Anzacs and kicked off in Mackay last night.
“We had rehearsal in the afternoon then a show and then the tour is off like a slingshot,” Smith-Brune said.
“I look forward to meeting and seeing the new theatre. The first ting I like to do when I have been to a theatre before is go to the stage and take a moment to look around at all the seats.
“I do it before I even head into the dressing room.”
Smith-Brune said her friendship with Gerber was the reason she decided to team up with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
“We have been friends for a long time, I used to work with another band that he was the leader of,” Smith-Brune said.
“ When the (Glenn Miller) estate approached Rick to take on the legacy of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, he said yes and called me.
“He said ‘you’re the first person I’ve called’ and I’m very grateful for that.”
This year’s tour of the Glenn Miller Orchestra sees some new songs added to the repetoire.
“We want to honour the Anzacs and I have been excited to learn some new, great songs,” Smith-Brune said.
“It’s a wonderful reason for us to come, to honour the Anzacs – two countries who came together to fight in Europe.”
Smith-Brune said her favourite new song on the set list to sing was How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down on the Farm.
“That’s a fun one to look forward to. But my favourite song is a balled called I Know Why. I look into the audience’s faces and see it speaks to so many people.”
