Beguine for Band - East Texas Symphonic Band Concert - October 9th, 2022

Abraham "Glenn" Osser was born in Munising, MI, the child of Russian-Jewish immigrants. He studied piano, violin and clarinet in high school and went on to study music at the University of Michigan, beginning in music education and switching to music theory. After graduating in 1935 he worked with a college dance band and, on advice from the band leader, moved to New York City, where he met publisher Charles Warren, who became Osser's mentor. With introductions from Warren, Osser began arranging for Bob Crosby and other big-name singers. He also began some radio work, hired by NBC to be a staff arranger with a young conductor, Al Roth. He also played sax and clarinet in some orchestras, including Les Brown's Band of Renown, where he became a close friend of Brown's. He also got to work with Benny Goodman on his radio program.