The Crew Chiefs Explained

The Crew Chiefs
Genre:	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)
• Glenn Miller Orchestra (with Johnny Desmond)  - "The Trolley Song" (1945)
• Glenn Miller Orchestra  - "It's Love-Love-Love" (1944)^[6]
• Glenn Miller Orchestra  - "There Are Yanks" (1944)
• Glenn Miller Orchestra (with Tex Beneke)  - "I'm Headin' For California" (1946)^[7]

Members

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

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

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.

Notes and References

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