The Martin Instrument Co. provided basic biographical information about Tex Beneke in one of its cartoon-type ads. Small illustrations helped to tell the story. (This copy comes from the Apr. 1950 issue of a Dutch music magazine, Tuney Tunes.)
This is the story of a famous American musician, Tex Beneke, who was a saxophonist and vocalist with Glenn Miller. After Miller's disappearance, he became leader of The Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas with the given name Gordon Beneke, he first was attracted to the saxophone while a young boy in school.
TEX BENEKE CARTOON
rough translation and summary by Christopher Popa
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In 1923, his parents gave him a brand new saxophone as a Christmas present. Though he became famous as a tenor saxophonist, this horn was an alto.
Beneke began taking saxophone lessons with a local teacher, and showed a lot of promise.
As his skills continued to develop, he purchased a Martin tenor saxophone.
He gained experience as a member of various bands which performed at school and other area dances.
Following graduation, Beneke [ l. ] was hired as a member of the Ben Young band.
While working in Detroit, Beneke received a phone call from trombonist Glenn Miller, inviting him to come to New York and join his new band.
Upon his arrival in New York City, Beneke went directly to a rehearsal of Miller's band. He walked in and said, "Hi ya, fellows" with his Texas accent, so Miller responded, "Hi ya, Tex." "Tex" became Beneke's nickname.
Beneke became one of the featured members of Miller's band, which achieved great popularity and appeared in two movies, "Sun Valley Serenade" and "Orchestra Wives."
Under Beneke's direction, The Glenn Miller Orchestra continued to win various popularity polls, though economics forced him to drop the band's string section, which Miller had used with his service band, in 1949.
At the present time, Beneke continues to perform Miller music to great acclaim and still plays the same Martin saxophone which he has for more than a dozen years.
