Residents of Clarinda are celebrating the 100th birthday today of their most famous native — Big Band leader Glenn Miller. Clarinda Mayor Frank Snyder says Miller and his music are known far beyond the small southwest Iowa town. He says you can go almost anywhere in the world, and if they don’t recognize the name Clarinda, they immediately know the name Glenn Miller. He says it has been a very positive thing for the community and he says they’ve tried to capture that interest and make the annual Glenn Miller festival exciting for people to visit. The festival is held in June. He says during the festival you’d have a hard time finding a place to stay in Council Bluffs — St. Joseph, Missouri and the surrounding area. Arlene Leonard is the board secretary of the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society. She says they are busy getting ready for this year’s festival. Miller and his orchestra became famous for such hits as “Tuxedo Junction” and “American Patrol.” Miller mysteriously disappeared when his plane went down in the English Channel December 15th of 1944 as he was flying to set up arrangements for an Army tour by his band.
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