Moe Purtill

Best-known as Glenn Miller’s drummer, Moe Purtill was a good accompanist, although he tended to be always a bit bombastic during his single features with Miller. He began freelancing in NY before possessing a stint with Crimson Norvo and Mildred Bailey from 1936-37. Purtill is at Miller’s 1st unsuccessful orchestra (1937), used Tommy Dorsey (1938-39) and was with Miller during his civilian band’s glory years (1939-42), showing up on practically all of Miller’s strike records. He used Kay Kyser (1943-44), offered in the Navy and performed briefly with Tex Beneke following the battle, but mostly worked well in the studios, occasionally participating in the many Miller reunion tasks. Purtill, who performed relatively small jazz in the 1950s and ’60s, by no means led a documenting day of his personal.