The Crew Chiefs

The Crew Chiefs
Background information
Genres	Jazz, swing, big band
Past members	Bill Conway Murray Kane Gene Steck Steve Steck Artie Malvin Lynn Allison

The Crew Chiefs were a vocal group popular in the 1940s, known for accompanying Tex Beneke, Glenn Miller, and Ray McKinley.[1][2] Member Artie Malvin co-wrote the song "I'm Headin' For California" with Glenn Miller in 1944.[3]

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 and the Army Air Forces Training Command Orchestra (with Johnny Desmond) – "Moon Dreams" (1944)[4]
• Glenn Miller Orchestra – "Have Ya Got Any Gum, Chum?" (1945)[5]
• Glenn Miller Orchestra (with Ray McKinley) – "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" (1944)[5]
• Glenn Miller Orchestra (with Johnny Desmond) – "The Trolley Song" (1945)[5]
• Glenn Miller Orchestra – "It's Love-Love-Love" (1944)[6]
• Glenn Miller Orchestra – "There Are Yanks" (1944)[6]
• Glenn Miller Orchestra (with Tex Beneke) – "I'm Headin' For California" (1946)[7]

Members

The following singers all had tenure within the group:[1][8]

• Bill Conway
• Murray Kane
• Gene Steck
• Steve Steck
• Artie Malvin
• Lynn Allison

References

1. Kloess, Larry. "Vocalist list". "Thrushes", "Canaries", and other Rara Avis. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
2. Polic, Edward F. (1989). The Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band: Sustineo Alas. Vol. 2. Scarecrow Press. p. 1174. ISBN 978-0-8108-2269-6.
3. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1946-03-30). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
4. Sears, Richard S. (1980). V-Discs: A History and Discography. Greenwood Press; illustrated edition (December 23, 1980) ISBN 978-0-313-22207-8. "Moon Dreams" was released as V Disc 201A in October, 1944.
5. March, Richard C. (1983). "Liner notes". The Glenn Miller Service Orchestra in the USA and Europe (Vol II). The International Glenn Miller Society. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
6. "Liner notes". War Bond Rally Chicago Theatre. Jasmine Records. 1983. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
7. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1946-03-30.
8. Palmer, Hugh. "Crew Chiefs Singing Group". Glenn Miller: The Lost Recordings. Retrieved 8 April 2010.

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.