Silvia Tiberio - Amazing Performers: A2 (Collins Amazing People ELT Readers)

19041944

the leader of the most famous big band in the USA

I was 11 years old when I used my money to buy my first instrument. I later formed an orchestra and created a new type of music. People enjoyed it so much! I played it for them until the end of my life.

I was born in Clarinda, a small town in the state of Iowa in the United States on 1st March 1904. My parents had a small farm there. They didnt earn much money, but they worked really hard.

Our life was very quiet. Our farm was far away from other houses. In the summer, you could see miles of yellow fields from our home. In the winter, the same fields were often white with snow. Our life became quieter then. I went to school every day. I also worked on the farm. My parents paid me for my work, so I started to save some money. In my free time, I hit objects and listened to the sounds they made. I tried different types of objects and created new rhythms . It was fun.

In 1915, when I was 11 years old, our family moved to Grand City in the state of Missouri. It was another very quiet town. At school, life was busy and I learned to play several instruments. Outside school, there wasnt much to do, so I found a way of spending my time. I used my money to buy a trombone and I played it in my free time. One day, I was asked to become a member of the local band. It was a very exciting time.

A trombone, Glenn Millers first instrument

When my parents decided to move again in 1918, I was sad because I had to leave the band. We went to Fort Morgan, a small town in Colorado. Fort Morgan wasnt big, but it had a high school. And the school had a band! I was surprised. Soon, I was playing in a band again. I played the trumpet this time.

When I finished high school in 1921, I had to choose the next step in my life. I liked to spend my time with people who liked music, so I joined Boyd Senters band. But two years later, I decided to leave the band. I thought, I have to do a university course. It will help me to find a better job later in my life.

I decided to attend the University of Colorado, but it wasnt a good decision. I went to bed late because I played in bands at night. I didnt do well because I didnt study hard. So I decided to leave the university.

I had a dream to become a professional musician and I told my parents about it. They listened to me and said, Were worried about your future. It isnt easy to earn money as a musician. But I loved music and I decided to try.

My first step was to work with other musicians so I could learn from them. During this time, I wrote the first version of my first hit , Moonlight Serenade. This was the start of my career .

The next years were very busy. I moved to Los Angeles and joined Ben Pollacks band. After that, I travelled to New York and I played music in clubs at night. When I was in New York, I got married to Helen Burger, a girl I met at university. She didnt see much of me because I toured with bands and spent very little time at home.

I joined the Red Nichols Orchestra and played in several Broadway shows. I recorded some music and I also started to work with the Dorsey Brothers, a very popular band. Why are they so popular? I asked myself. The answer was simple their music was different from other types of music and it made people feel happy.

I spent a lot of time in theatres and studios . It was a happy time for me, but life was very hard for a lot of other people. There was a depression in the United States. A lot of people lost their jobs and they didnt have much money. They couldnt buy tickets for shows.

In 1936, I was asked to appear in a film, The Big Broadcast of 1936. Great actors Bing Crosby was one of them also appeared in it. This film was very important in my career because it helped me to take a new, big step. I asked myself, Can I form my own band? My answer was, Why not? Im a good musician. Ive worked with great bands. I have to try.