Gordon Lee "Tex" Beneke (February 12, 1914 – May 30, 2000) was an American saxophonist, singer, and bandleader. His career is a history of associations with bandleader Glenn Miller and former musicians and singers who worked with Miller. His band is also associated with the careers of Eydie Gorme, Henry Mancini and Ronnie Deauville. Beneke also solos on the recording the Glenn Miller Orchestra made of their popular song "In The Mood" and sings on another popular Glenn Miller recording, "Chattanooga Choo Choo". Jazz critic Will Friedwald considers Beneke to be one of the major blues singers who sang with the big bands of the early 1940s.
February 12, 1914, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Died
May 30, 2000, Costa Mesa, California, United States
Place Of Birth
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Profession
Soundtrack, Actor
Nationality
American
Spouse
Sandra Beneke (m. 1984–2000), Margaret Beneke
Albums
Christmas Serenade in the Glenn Miller Style
Music Groups
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Movies
Upbeat in Music
TV Shows
Cavalcade of Bands
Star Sign
Aquarius
#
Fact
1
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6200 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
2
Tex was an active amateur radio operator until his death. One of his early call signs was W2CKD. His wife, Marguerite was also licensed as W2EHR.In the late 1950s, he moved to St. Louis, MO and his call was changed to K0HWY. He held that call sign until his death in May, 2000.
3
Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1996.
4
In 1946, at the request of Glenn Miller's widow, Beneke took over leadership of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
5
Big band singer/saxophonist.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Fallout 4
2015
Video Game performer: "A Wonderful Guy"
Zompyres: Texas
2010
performer: "Give Me Five Minutes More" / writer: "Give Me Five Minutes More"
My Music: The Big Band Years
2009
TV Movie performer: "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Sentimental Journey" uncredited, "Moonlight Serenade" uncredited, "In the Mood" uncredited, "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" uncredited, "At Last" uncredited, "Elmer's Tune" uncredited, "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo" uncredited, "Moonlight Cocktail" uncredited, "Chattanooga Choo Choo" uncredited
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
2009
Video documentary performer: "Chattanooga Choo Choo" - uncredited
Fallout 3
2008
Video Game performer: "A Wonderful Guy"
Cold Case
2007
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Running with Scissors
2006
performer: "Blue Champagne" 1968
Babe: Pig in the City
1998
performer: "Chattanooga Choo Choo"
Mr. & Mrs. Bridge
1990
performer: "The Rhumba Jumps"
Myra Breckinridge
1970
performer: "Chattanooga Choo Choo" - uncredited
The Bell Telephone Hour
1962
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Startime
1960
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Sweet Serenade
1950
Short performer: "Tuxedo Junction", "Moonlight Serenade", "Pin Striped Pants and a Cutaway Coat" as "Pin Striped Pants", "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
Musical Merry-Go-Round No. 6
1948
Short performer: "Somebody Loves Me"
Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Orchestra
1947
Short performer: "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "The Red Cavalry March", "Cynthia's in Love", "Little Brown Jug", "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop" - uncredited
Melody Time
1946
Short performer: "Moonlight Serenade" uncredited, "In the Mood" uncredited, "Serenade in Blue", "Five Minutes More", "Don't Be That Way" uncredited, "American Patrol" uncredited, "Some Other Time" uncredited, "Londonderry Air" uncredited
Orchestra Wives
1942
performer: " I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo", "People Like You and Me" - uncredited
Sun Valley Serenade
1941
"In the Mood" 1939, uncredited / performer: "Chattanooga Choo Choo" 1941 - uncredited
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
General Electric Theater
1960
TV Series
Musical Merry-Go-Round #2
1948
Short
Orchestra
Orchestra Wives
1942
Phil Mercer (uncredited)
Trumpet Serenade
1942
Short
Singer
Sun Valley Serenade
1941
Orchestra Member (uncredited)
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Anita Bryant Spectacular
1980
TV Special
Himself
Dinah!
1974
TV Series
Himself
Happy Days
1970
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1964
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall
1963
TV Series
Himself - Orchestra Leader
The Bell Telephone Hour
1962
TV Series
Himself - Orchestra Leader
Startime
1960
TV Series
Himself
This Is Your Life
1957
TV Series
Himself
Star of the Family
1952
TV Series
Himself
Kreisler Bandstand
1951
TV Series
Himself
Sweet Serenade
1950
Short
Himself (and the Glenn Miller Orchestra)
Cavalcade of Bands
1950
TV Series
Musical Merry-Go-Round No. 6
1948
Short
Themselves (as Tex Beneke and His Orchestra)
Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Orchestra
1947
Short
Himself - Bandleader
Melody Time
1946
Short
Himself - Leader of Glenn Miller Band
Upbeat in Music
1943
Documentary short
Himself - Band Vocalist
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
My Music: Starlight Ballroom
2015
TV Movie
Himself
My Music: Big Band Vocalists
2012
TV Movie
Himself
My Music: The Big Band Years
2009
TV Movie
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1991
Star on the Walk of Fame
Walk of Fame
Recording
Awarded on September 12, 1991 at 6200 Hollywood Blvd.
$1.1 Million
