On July 22, 1966, Uli Plettendorff was born in Münster/Westf., Germany. In his adolescent years, he discovered his passion for music in general and for jazz especially. A music cassette of Louis Armstrong was one of the earliest inspirations which enticed him to learn his first instrument, the trumpet. However at year fifteen he switched to the trombone, the instrument that he would dedicate his life to just as many great Jazz musicians had before him, including Glenn Miller. Later on, Uli went on to study jazz specialised for his instrument in Hamburg, Amsterdam, and Cologne. But before he had even finished acquiring his degree, in 1987, he began playing in Wil Salden's "The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra" and has since been the orchestra's first chair trombonist. Throughout his lengthy career, Uli has played in many renowned big bands, forever drawn in by his love for the genre of swing. Until Paul Kuhn's death, Uli was also a part of his orchestra, as well as a regular performer for the national broadcast big bands such as NDR, WDR, HR, and RIAS Berlin. He occasionally also sat first chair in the big band of American trombonist, composer, and arranger Bob Brookmeyer and has toured with international stars such as Shirley Bassey, Nancy Sinatra, and Udo Jürgens. The dedication he’d shown and experiences he’d gained throughout his career did not go unnoticed by the industry, as he began receiving an increase of inquiries to take on greater responsibilities by organising bands for studio recordings and live concerts, such as CD productions by Udo Jürgens and Tom Gaebel, performances of the big band at the International Jazz Festival Marseille, the German Allstar Big Band as part of the Nuremberg Festival "Stars im Luitpoldhain," and many more. Despite all the places he had been, Uli’s heart remained devoted to the Glenn Miller Orchestra, so it came as no surprised that when Wil Salden began considering the future of his life's work around 2020, he chose Uli as his successor. Elated and grateful for being entrusted with this great responsibility, Uli Plettendorff accepted the role and has been leading the Glenn Miller Orchestra since August 2024. He is determined to add many more years to its already 40-year existence. His extensive musical and organisational experience, combined with his love for big band music, will ensure that audiences throughout Europe will continue to enjoy a first-class show in the style of Glenn Miller and possibly entice a new generation to appreciate the great big band era of the 1940s to 1960s.
