The Crew Chiefs

The Crew Chiefs were the backing vocal sextet for Glenn Miller's Army Air Force band, usually performing in conjunction with lead singer Tex Beneke from 1942 until 1946. The group consisted of saxophonist and singer (Private) James Lynn Allison (1912-1993); composer/baritone (Corporal) Arthur Malvin (1922-2006) who was the nominal leader; arranger/baritone Bill Conway (1913-1991) who was an original member of The Modernaires; trumpet player (Sergeant) Steve Steck (1917-1990); his younger brother (Private) Gene (1921-1988); plus composer, vocalist and budding comedian (Corporal) Murray Kane (1915-1986). They recorded on V-Discs released by the U.S. War Department and could also be heard on weekly coast-to-coast Air Force recruitment radio broadcasts. On August 31 1944 they performed live at the Paris Cinema in London, backing Bing Crosby in a rendition of the ballad "Poinciana". The Crew Chiefs were disbanded under Beneke's leadership in 1946, replaced by the 'Mello-Larks" (a quartet consisting of three male and one female vocalist).