"(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo" is a #1 popular song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in 1942. It was written by Mack Gordon and

Harry Warren Harry Warren (born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna; December 24, 1893 – September 22, 1981) was an American composer and the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song ...

and published in 1942. It was featured in the

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as brea ...

'' Orchestra Wives'' and was recorded by

Glenn Miller Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the US Army Air Forc ...

and His Orchestra, featuring Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton and The Modernaires, who released it as an A side 78 in 1942, 27934-A. The B side was " At Last".

Background

The song popularized the city of

Kalamazoo, Michigan Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in the southwest region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. At the 2010 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 74,262. Kalamazoo is the major city of the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropoli ...

. Although originally recorded by the

band with Tex Beneke on lead vocals, it was recreated by the fictional Gene Morrison Orchestra performing as the Glenn Miller Band and the Nicholas Brothers (performing the song as part of a dance sequence) in the 1942 20th Century Fox movie '' Orchestra Wives''.Lyrics, Glenn Miller "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo". The song was nominated for Best Music, Original Song at the

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

(music), Mack Gordon (lyrics). See also

Boom Shot (song) Boom Shot is a 1942 song composed by Glenn Miller and Billy May for the 20th Century Fox movie ''Orchestra Wives'' starring George Montgomery (actor), George Montgomery and Ann Rutherford. Billy May is credited as his first wife, Arletta May, bec ...

. The song was recorded on May 20, 1942 in Hollywood. The arrangement was by Jerry Gray. The personnel on "(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo": Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, the Modernaires (vocals), Billy May, John Best, Steve Lipkins, R.D. McMickle (trumpet), Glenn Miller, Jim Priddy, Paul Tanner, Frank D'Annolfo (trombone), Lloyd "Skip" Martin, Wilbur Schwartz (clarinet, alto saxophone), Tex Beneke, Al Klink (tenor saxophone), Ernie Caceres (baritone saxophone), Chummy MacGregor (piano), Bobby Hackett (guitar), Edward "Doc" Goldberg (string bass), and Maurice Purtill (drums).

Reception

The Glenn Miller record was the year's best-selling recording in the United States, according to ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large adverti ...

'' magazine. It spent nineteen weeks on the ''Billboard'' charts, including eight weeks in first place."The Year's Top Recordings". '' The Billboard''. 55 (1): 27. January 2, 1943. The song was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of "Best Music, Original Song" in 1943.

External links

Full Lyrics at LyricsOnDemand.com

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalamazoo 1942 songs 1942 singles Songs with music by Harry Warren Songs with lyrics by Mack Gordon Glenn Miller songs Songs written for films Number-one singles in the United States Pop standards Songs about Michigan RCA Victor singles