Before Glenn Miller became the most famous bandleader in history, he got his start playing for greats like Jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. He had a few false starts as a bandleader with ensembles that went nowhere, but that all changed in 1938. He rethought his sound—arranging music around his lead clarinet—and it soon caught on in a huge way. His new brand of swing was epic and celebratory, providing a much-needed escape for WWII-weary listeners. Miller became a star but then tragically his plane disappeared over the English Channel between performances for U.S. soldiers in 1944.