MusicAmaze.com: Artist Directory: Glenn Houle

Glenn was born April of 1928 into a family of musicians. While growing up in La Grande, Oregon, he soon showed his own avid interest in music. During Grade School, he played flute in a band with his father and mother. They performed on Saturday nights at the Eagle's Hall for three silver dollars. Entering Junior High School, he joined a Dixieland band playing clarinet. By High School, they had evolved into a Swing band - with bandleader Glenn on the saxophone. They performed at dances and proms. He was also a member of the school Concert Band. After graduating from High School, he attended Eastern Oregon College for one year - and was then offered a scholarship to study music at Eastern Washington College in Cheney. Taking full advantage of this opportunity, he attended for three years - earning his Bachelor of Arts degree - while leading a Swing band and playing sax. During his stay, he also began work on original compositions. His "Suite for Strings and Woodwinds" was performed by the Spokane Symphony.

The Solid Senders

After graduation, Glenn returned to Oregon and spent two years teaching music in public schools. He also continued composing - his "Chorale" and "Episode for Strings" were performed by the Portland Chamber Symphony during that time. Deciding to further his higher education, Glenn then attended the University of Washington in Seattle. While he studied there, the University Orchestra performed his "Theme and Variations for Orchestra" and the Seattle Philharmonic performed his "First Symphony". He went on to earn his MASTERS DEGREE in MUSIC COMPOSITION - his Masters Thesis was "Concerto for Chorus and Orchestra". Also, of course, Glenn continued to lead his Swing band - playing sax and arranging scores.

The Big City Move
Glenn married his musician sweetheart Francis, and moved to Los Angeles - attending USC for some additional graduate work. After a year, he opened Allied Music School in the San Fernando Valley - later he opened two more schools in Los Angeles. He also began to work with the San Fernando Valley Symphony, doing chamber concerts. Then, in 1961, Glenn wrote and produced his first musical show - "Young Man Running" - starring Marni Nixon, Phil Harvey and Richard Hale. He continued to operate his music schools for fifteen years - while doing symphonic arrangements that were performed in such venues as the Valley Music Center and the Los Angeles Music Center. During that time, he also collaborated with his wife on some musical shows - AND four children.

In 1963, Glenn gave his eldest son Curt a guitar. This led to Rock music being played in the home. When The Beatles invaded America, Glenn realized the potential of this fresh new style of music. He came up with the name for Curt's first band, THE CLEFDWELLERS, and produced their first recording - "Summer¹s Coming". He then decided to manage some Rock / Pop bands and singers. He wrote songs and produced recordings with them over the next several years.

Back to School
In 1971, Glenn decided to close his three Music Schools and resume teaching in public schools. Over the next 20 years, he taught music to young students in the Los Angeles area. He also continued pursuing his interest in musical theater. In 1981, he wrote and produced "Chocolonia" a musical comedy with a rock band in the orchestra pit (including his other son, Mark, on bass guitar). This was a show, full of great songs and humor, that had a successful run in Hollywood - to appreciative audiences and great reviews. Glenn also continued to work with Rock / Pop bands and singers writing and recording songs with them (and playing his saxophones).

Since 1991, Glenn has been teaching music in private schools. He has also been helping to build MusicAmaze (with his two sons), playing saxophone, composing songs, arranging and orchestrating scores . As a Master of the artform and a lifelong teacher, Glenn fully appreciates the importance of this enterprise ["music is the one and only universal human language it comes from the heart and soul to nurture the body and mind"].

In 2001, final preparations were being made to launch the official MusicAmaze website, and the first CD was released. Several more albums are already planned for production. Future projects include recording his "First Symphony" - and various other symphonic works - his Jazz, Swing and Pop compositions perhaps some Musical Theater as well as writing, arranging and performing songs for upcoming albums by the Local Group.