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Special Collections and Archives
TEX BENEKE
researched by Music Librarian Christopher Popa
The Tex Beneke Orchestra is still performing, operated by Terry M. Hill and Associates of Palm desert, CA, and has the rights to use Beneke's music library from the 1950s on.
Following his death on May 30, 2000, some of Beneke's former personal possessions were sold on eBay - even, six years later, his band's red music stands. It was stated in the eBay listing that the stands had been last used "at the last performance in Northern California May 11, 2000 held at the Jackson Rancheria Casino Showroom."
The Glenn Miller Orchestra, now owned and operated by Glenn Miller Productions, Inc. of Lake Mary, FL, has available to it the musical arrangements which were used when Beneke led the band from 1946-50. The Orchestra, presently directed by trombonist Larry O'Brien, has recently played a few of them in concert, namely (Give Me) Five Minutes More and A Gal in Calico.
Other Beneke memorabilia, such as the 1940 advertisement shown below, is in the hands of private collectors.
sources:
eBay listing, "Tex Beneke Authentic Original Dance Band Music Stands," item number
7391702126, Mar. 2006.
The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, http://www.glennmillerorchestra.com/.
