Benny Goodman
from the film Stage Door Canteen (1943)
Background information
Birth name	Benjamin David Goodman
Born	May 30, 1909(1909-05-30)
Origin	Chicago, Illinois
Died	June 13, 1986 (aged 77)
Genre(s)	Swing, Big band
Occupation(s)	Musician, Bandleader, Songwriter
Instrument(s)	Clarinet
Years active	1926-1986
Label(s)	Bluebird, Brunswick, Columbia, Capitol, Decca, Melotone, Musicmasters, Vocalion
Website	BennyGoodman.com
Notable instrument(s)
Clarinet

Benny Goodman, born Benjamin David Goodman,^[1] (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz musician, clarinetist and bandleader, known as "King of Swing", "Patriarch of the Clarinet", "The Professor", and "Swing's Senior Statesman". Stage Door Canteen ( 1943) is a Musical film produced by Sol Lesser Productions and distributed by United Artists. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The clarinet is a Musical instrument in the Woodwind family The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Bluebird Records is a sub- label of RCA Victor Records originally created in 1932 to counter ARC Records in the "3 records for a dollar" Brunswick Records is a United States based Record label. The label is currently distributed by Koch Entertainment. Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Capitol Records is a major United States -based Record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood California and New York City as Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Melotone Records was a United States based Record label issuing 78 Rpm disc records from Vocalion Records was a Record label historically active in the United States and in the United Kingdom. The clarinet is a Musical instrument in the Woodwind family The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A clarinetist (also spelled clarinettist) is a Musician who plays the Clarinet. A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United

Childhood and early years

Goodman was born in Chicago, the ninth of twelve children^[2] of poor Jewish immigrants from Hungary. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic ^[3] who lived in the Maxwell Street neighborhood. Maxwell Street is an east-west street in Chicago Illinois that intersects with Halsted Street just south of Roosevelt Road. His father, was David Guttman, a Hungarian tailor, his mother was Dora Rezinski and his actual birthname was Benő Guttman. His parents met in Baltimore, Maryland and moved to Chicago before Benny was born. ^[4]

When Benny was 10, his father enrolled Benny and two older brothers in music lessons at the Kehelah Jacob Synagogue. The next year he joined the boys club band at Jane Addams' Hull House, where he received lessons from the director James Sylvester. Laura Jane Addams (September 6 1860 &ndash May 21 1935 was a founder of the U Also important during this period were his two years of instruction from the classically trained clarinetist Franz Schoepp. ^[5] His early influences were New Orleans jazz clarinetists working in Chicago, notably Johnny Dodds, Leon Roppolo, and Jimmy Noone. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana Johnny Dodds ( April 12 1892 &ndash August 8 1940) was a New Orleans based Jazz Clarinetist and Alto saxophonist Leon Roppolo ( March 16, 1902 &ndash October 5, 1943) was a prominent early Jazz Clarinetist, best known for his playing Jimmie Noone (or Jimmy Noone; born April 23 1895 in Cut Off Louisiana &ndash died April 19 1944 in Los Angeles ^[6] Goodman learned quickly, becoming a strong player at an early age. He was soon playing professionally while still 'in short pants', playing clarinet in various bands.

When Goodman was 16, he joined one of Chicago's top bands, the Ben Pollack Orchestra, with which he made his first recordings in 1926. Ben Pollack ( June 22, 1903 – June 7, 1971) was a Drummer and Bandleader from the mid 1920s through the swing Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[7] He made his first record on Vocalion under his own name two years later. Vocalion Records was a Record label historically active in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Remaining with Pollack through 1929, Goodman recorded with the regular Pollack band and smaller groups drawn from the orchestra. The side sessions produced scores of often hot sides recorded for the various dime-store record labels under a bewildering array of group names, such as Mills' Musical Clowns, Goody's Good Timers, The Hotsy Totsy Gang, Jimmy Backen's Toe Ticklers, Dixie Daisies, and Kentucky Grasshoppers.

Goodman's father, David, was a working-class immigrant about whom Benny said (interview, 'Downbeat', Feb 8, 1956); ". . . Pop worked in the stockyards, shoveling lard in its unrefined state. He had those boots, and he'd come home at the end of the day exhausted, stinking to high heaven, and when he walked in it made me sick. I couldn't stand it. I couldn't stand the idea of Pop every day standing in that stuff, shoveling it around".

On December 9, 1929 David Goodman was killed in a traffic accident shortly after Benny joined the Pollack band and had urged his father to retire, now that he (Benny) and his brother (Harry) were doing well as professional musicians. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. According to James Lincoln Collier, "Pop looked Benny in the eye and said, 'Benny, you take care of yourself, I'll take care of myself. James Lincoln Collier (b June 27, 1928) is a journalist author and professional musician '" Collier continues: "It was an unhappy choice. Not long afterwards, as he was stepping down from a street car — according to one story — he was struck by a car. He never regained consciousness and died in the hospital the next day. It was a bitter blow to the family, and it haunted Benny to the end that his father had not lived to see the success he, and some of the others, made of themselves. "^[8] "Benny described his father's death as 'the saddest thing that ever happened in our family. '"^[9]

Career

Goodman left for New York City and became a successful session musician during the late 1920s and early 1930s. The City of New York He made a reputation as a solid player who was prepared and reliable. He played with the nationally known bands of Ben Selvin, Red Nichols, Isham Jones, and Ted Lewis. Ben Selvin ( March 5, 1898 - July 15, 1980) son of Russian immigrant Jewish parents was a musician bandleader Record Ernest Loring "Red" Nichols ( May 8, 1905 &ndash June 28, 1965) was an American Jazz Cornettist Isham Jones ( 31 January, 1894 &ndash 19 October, 1956) was a United States bandleader violinist bassist and Songwriter Theodore Leopold Friedman, better known as Ted Lewis ( June 6, 1892 &ndash August 25, 1971) was an American entertainer He also recorded musical soundtracks for movie shorts; some fans are convinced that Benny Goodman's clarinet can be heard on the soundtrack of One A. M. , a Charlie Chaplin comedy re-released to theaters in 1934.

In 1934 Goodman auditioned for NBC's Let's Dance, a well regarded radio program that featured various styles of dance music. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's This article is about the radio program for other uses see Let's Dance. Since he needed new arrangements every week for the show, his agent, John Hammond, suggested that he purchase jazz charts from Fletcher Henderson, an African-American musician from Atlanta who had New York's most popular African-American band in the 1920s and early 1930s. John Henry Hammond II ( December 15, 1910 – July 10, 1987) was a Record producer, musician and music critic from the 1930s to the Fletcher Hamilton Henderson Jr ( December 18, 1897 &ndash December 28, 1952) was an American pianist bandleader Arranger

Goodman, a wise businessman, caught Henderson in 1929 when the stock market crashed. He purchased all of Henderson's song books, and hired Henderson's band members to teach his musicians how to play the music.

The combination of Goodman's solid clarinet playing, the Henderson charts, and the well-rehearsed band made Goodman a rising star in the mid-1930s, earning him the title "King of Swing. " In early 1935, Goodman and his band were one of three bands featured on Let's Dance. His radio broadcasts from New York aired too late to attract a large East Coast audience. However, unknown to him, the timeslot gave him an avid following on the West Coast. He and his band remained on Let's Dance until May of that year when a strike forced the cancellation of the radio show.

With nothing else to do, the band set out on a tour of America. However, at a number of engagements the band received a hostile reception, as many in the audiences expected smoother, sweeter jazz as opposed to the "hot" style that Goodman's band was accustomed to playing. By August of 1935, Goodman found himself with a band that was nearly broke, disillusioned and ready to quit. It was at this moment that everything for the band and jazz changed.

Palomar Ballroom engagement

In July of 1935, a record of the Goodman band playing the Henderson charts on "King Porter Stomp" backed with "Sometimes I'm Happy," Victor 78 25090, had been released to ecstatic reviews in both Down Beat and Melody Maker. King Porter Stomp is a tune by Jelly Roll Morton. Morton himself first recorded the number in 1923 as a piano solo "Sometimes I'm Happy (Sometimes I'm Blue" is a popular Song. RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. A gramophone Down Beat is an American Magazine devoted to "jazz blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly Music Newspaper ^[10] This had made little impact on the tour, and the last scheduled stop came on August 21, 1935 at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, Goodman and his band scheduled for a three-week engagement. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Palomar Ballroom, built in 1925 was a famous Ballroom in Los Angeles California, in the United States. The Palomar provided the ideal environment, as there was a huge dance floor with a capacity of 4,000 couples. On hand for the engagement were famed musicians Gene Krupa, Bunny Berigan, and Helen Ward. Gene Krupa ( January 15, 1909 &ndash October 16, 1973) was an influential American Jazz and Big band Drummer Rowland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan ( November 2 1908 - June 2, 1942) was an American Jazz Trumpeter Helen Ward (1916 New York City – 21 April 1998 Arlington Virginia was an American singer of Swing music. The first night, Goodman and his band cautiously began playing recently purchased stock arrangements; the reaction was, at best, tepid. Realizing this, Krupa said "If we're gonna die, Benny, let's die playing our own thing. "^[11] As George Spink states:

At the beginning of the next set, Goodman told the band to put aside the stock arrangements and called for charts by Fletcher Henderson and other swing arrangers who were writing for the band. When trumpeter Bunny Berigan played his solos on Henderson’s versions of "Sometimes I'm Happy" and "King Porter Stomp," the Palomar dancers cheered like crazy and exploded with applause! They gathered around the bandstand to listen to this new music. ^[11]

This was the music the enthusiastic audience had heard on the "Let's Dance" radio show and that they had come to hear.

Over the nights of the engagement, a new dance labeled the "Jitterbug" captured the dancers on the floor, and a new craze had begun. Jitterbug can be used as a Noun to refer to a swing dancer or various types of Swing dances e ^[12] Onlookers gathered around the edges of the ballroom floor. Within days of the opening, newspapers around the country were headlining stories about the new phenomenon that had started at the Palomar. Goodman was finally a nationally known star, and the Swing Era began, led by Goodman. The Swing Era was the period of time (1935&ndash1946 when Big band Swing music was the most popular music in America. Following this the big band era exploded.

Carnegie Hall concert

In bringing jazz to Carnegie, [Benny Goodman was], in effect, smuggling American contraband into the halls of European high culture, and Goodman and his 15 men pull[ed] it off with the audacity and precision of Ocean's Eleven. Ocean's Eleven (or Ocean's 11) is a 1960 Heist film directed by Lewis Milestone and starring five Rat Packers Frank ^[13]

In late 1937, Goodman's publicist Wynn Nathanson attempted a publicity stunt in the form of suggesting Goodman and his band should play Carnegie Hall in New York City. Carnegie Hall (generally ˌkɑrnɨgi ˈhɔːl is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east The City of New York "Benny Goodman was initially hesitant about the concert, fearing for the worst; however, when his film Hollywood Hotel opened to rave reviews and giant lines, he threw himself into the work. He gave up several dates and insisted on holding rehearsals inside Carnegie Hall to familiarize the band with the lively acoustics. "^[14]

The concert was the evening of January 16, 1938. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It sold out weeks before, with the capacity 2,760 seats going for the top price of US$2. 75 a seat, for the time a very high price. The concert began with three contemporary numbers from the Goodman band—"Don't Be That Way", "Sometimes I'm Happy", and "One O'Clock Jump". Then came a history of jazz, starting with a Dixieland quartet performing "Sensation Rag". Once again, initial crowd reaction, though polite, was tepid. Then came a jam session on "Honeysuckle Rose" featuring members of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands as guests. William "Count" Basie ( August 21, 1904 &ndash April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, Organist Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. It did not go as well as hoped. As the concert went on, things livened up. The Goodman band and quartet took over the stage and performed the numbers that had already made them famous. Some of the later trio and quartet numbers were well-received, and a vocal on "Loch Lomond" by Martha Tilton, though nothing special, provoked five curtain calls and cries for an encore. Martha Tilton ( November 14 1915, Corpus Christi Texas - December 8 2006, Brentwood California) was an American popular The encore forced Goodman to make his only audience announcement for the night, stating that they had no encore prepared but that Martha would return shortly with another number. ^[15]

By the time the band got to the climactic piece "Sing, Sing, Sing," success of the night was assured. " Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing " is a 1936 song written by Louis Prima, that has become one of the definitive songs of the Big band and Bettering the commercial 12-inch record, this live performance featured playing by tenor saxophonist Babe Russin, trumpeter Harry James, and then Benny Goodman, backed by drummer Gene Krupa in accompaniment. Irving "Babe" Russin ( June 18, 1911 - August 4, 1984) was a Tenor saxophone player Harry James ( March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American Musician and Band leader, and a well-known But the really unforgettable moment came when Goodman finished his solo and unexpectedly tossed the ball to pianist Jess Stacy. Jess Stacy ( August 11, 1904 – January 1, 1995) was an American jazz pianist who became famous during the Swing Era "At the Carnegie Hall concert, after the usual theatrics, Jess Stacy was allowed to solo and, given the venue, what followed was appropriate. Used to just playing rhythm on the tune, he was unprepared for a turn in the spotlight, but what came out of his fingers was a graceful, impressionistic marvel with classical flourishes, yet still managed to swing. It was the best thing he ever did, and it's ironic that such a layered, nuanced performance came at the end of such a chaotic, bombastic tune. "^[16]

This concert has been regarded by some as the most significant in jazz history. After years of work by musicians from all over the country, jazz had finally been accepted by mainstream audiences. While the big band era would not last for much longer, it was from this point forward that the ground work for multiple other genres of popular music was laid.

Recordings were made of this concert, but even by the technology of the day the equipment used was not of the finest quality. Acetate recordings of the concert were made, and aluminum studio masters were also cut. An acetate disc (also known as a test acetate or in the United States a lacquer) is an audio disc that is created as part of the process of producing a Gramophone

The recording was produced by Albert Marx as a special gift for his wife, Helen Ward and a second set for Benny. He contracted Artists Recording Studio to make 2 sets. Artists Recording only had 2 turntables so they farmed out the second set to Raymond Scott's recording studio. [. . . ] It was Benny's sister-in-law who found the recordings in Benny's apartment [in 1950] and brought them to Benny's attention. ^[17]

Goodman took the newly discovered recording to his record company, Columbia, and a selection from them was issued on LP. These recording have not been out of print since they were first issued.

In early 1998, the aluminum masters were rediscovered and a new CD set of the concert was released based on these masters.

Charlie Christian

Pianist/arranger Mary Lou Williams[1] was a good friend of both Columbia records producer John Hammond and Benny Goodman. Mary Lou Williams ( May 8, 1910 &ndash May 28, 1981) was an American Jazz Stride pianist, Composer she first suggested to John Hammond that he see Charlie Christian. Charlie Christian (Charles Henry Christian ( 29 July 1916 &ndash 2 March 1942) was an American swing and Bebop [2]

Charlie Christian was playing at the Ritz cracker in Oklahoma City where [. . . ] John Hammond heard him in 1939. Hammond recommended him to Benny Goodman, but the band leader wasn't interested. The idea of an electrified guitar didn't appeal, and Goodman didn't care for Christian's flashy style of dressing. Reportedly, Hammond personally installed Christian onstage during a break in a Goodman concert in Beverly Hills. Irritated to see Christian among the band, Goodman struck up "Rose Room," not expecting the guitarist to know the tune. What followed amazed everyone who heard the 45-minute performance. [3]

Charlie was a hit on the electric guitar and remained in the Benny Goodman Sextet for two years (1939-1941). He wrote many of the group's head arrangements (some of which Goodman took credit for) and was an inspiration to all. The sextet made him famous and provided him with a steady income while Charlie worked on legitimizing, popularizing, revolutionizing, and standardizing the electric guitar as a jazz instrument. [4]

Christian eventually stayed in New York City, jamming with bop musicians at Minton's in Harlem. "Charlie impressed them all by improvising long lines that emphasized off beats, and by using altered chords. "[5] Charlie Christian died in Staten Island, March 2, 1942 of tuberculosis. Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Helping to broaden the form of jazz, Benny Goodman gave the nascent talent a huge start. Charlie Christian's recordings and rehearsal dubs he made at Columbia records with Benny Goodman in the early forties are widely known and widely respected.

Beyond swing

Goodman with his band and singer, Peggy Lee, in the film Stage Door Canteen (1943)

Goodman continued his meteoric rise throughout the late 1930s with his big band, his trio and quartet, and a sextet. Peggy Lee ( May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002) was an American Jazz and popular music singer and Songwriter Stage Door Canteen ( 1943) is a Musical film produced by Sol Lesser Productions and distributed by United Artists. A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late He influenced almost every jazz musician who played clarinet after him. However, in time the movement in jazz that he ignited in 1935 began to fade. By the mid-1940s, big bands lost a lot of their popularity. There were several reasons for this decline. In 1941, ASCAP had a licensing war with music publishers. In 1942 to 1944 and 1948, the major musicians union went on strike against the major record labels in the United States, and singers took the spot in popularity that the big bands once enjoyed. ^[18] Also, by the late 1940s, swing was no longer the dominant mode of jazz musicians. ^[19]

Bebop, Cool Jazz

By the 1940s, jazz musicians were borrowing some of the more advanced ideas that classical musicians had been using. Bebop and then later cool jazz were beginning to be heard. The recordings Goodman made in the bop style for Capitol Records were highly praised by jazz critics. Capitol Records is a major United States -based Record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood California and New York City as When Goodman was starting a bebop band, he hired Buddy Greco, Zoot Sims, Wardell Gray and a few other modern players. Buddy Greco (born Armando Greco, 14 August 1926, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American Singer and John Haley "Zoot" Sims ( October 29, 1925 - March 23, 1985) was an American Jazz Tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray (1921-1955 was an American Jazz Bebop tenor saxophonist. ^[20]

Pianist/arranger Mary Lou Williams had been a favorite of Benny's since she first appeared on the national scene in 1936 [. . . ]. [A]s Goodman warily approached the music of [Charlie] Parker and [Dizzy] Gillespie, he turned to Williams for musical guidance. [. . . ] Pianist Mel Powell was the first to introduce the new music to Benny in 1945, and kept him abreast to what was happening around 52nd Street. Mel Powell (born Melvin Epstein, February 12, 1923 in the Bronx, New York City &ndash April 24, 1998 in 52nd Street is a 19 mile long one-way Street traveling west to east across Midtown Manhattan. ^[20]

Goodman enjoyed the new music of bebop and cool jazz that was beginning to arrive in the nineteen forties. When Goodman heard Thelonious Monk, a celebrated pianist and accompanist to bop players Parker, Gillespie and Kenny Clarke, he remarked, "I like it, I like that very much. Thelonious Sphere Monk ( October 10, 1917 - February 17, 1982) was an American Jazz Pianist and Composer. I like the piece and I like the way he played it. [. . . ] I think he's got a sense of humor and he's got some good things there. "^[20]

Benny Goodman (third from left) in 1952 with some of his former musicians, seated around piano left to right: Vernon Brown, George Auld, Gene Krupa, Clint Neagley, Ziggy Elman, Israel Crosby and Teddy Wilson (at piano)

'Benny had heard this Swedish clarinet player named Stan Hasselgard playing bebop, and he loved it [. Vernon Brown may refer to Vernon Brown (musician, big band trombonist from Benny Goodman's orchestra Vernon Brown (South Dakota, former Georgie Auld (May 19 1919 &ndash January 8 1990 was a jazz tenor Saxophonist, Clarinetist and bandleader Gene Krupa ( January 15, 1909 &ndash October 16, 1973) was an influential American Jazz and Big band Drummer Harry Aaron Finkelman ( May 26, 1914 – June 26, 1968) better known by the Stage name Ziggy Elman, was an American Israel Crosby ( 19 January 1919 &ndash 11 August, 1962) was an African-American Jazz Double-bassist born in Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson ( November 24 1912 &ndash July 31 1986) was a jazz pianist from the United States Ake "Stan" Hasselgård ( October 4, 1922, Sundsvall, Sweden - November 23, 1948, Decatur Illinois) . . ] [. ]' 'So he started a bebop band. But after a year and a half, he became frustrated. He eventually reformed his band and went back to playing Fletcher Henderson arrangements. Fletcher Hamilton Henderson Jr ( December 18, 1897 &ndash December 28, 1952) was an American pianist bandleader Arranger Benny was a swing player and decided to concentrate on what he does best. ^[21]

By 1953, Goodman completely changed his mind about bebop. "Maybe bop has done more to set music back for years than anything [. . . ] Basically it's all wrong. It's not even knowing the scales. [. . . ] Bop was mostly publicity and people figuring angles. "^[22]

Forays into the classical repertoire

Goodman's first classical recording dates from April 25, 1938 when he recorded Mozart's Clarinet Quintet. After his bop period, Goodman furthered his interest in classical music written for the clarinet, and frequently met with top classical clarinetists of the day as well.

In 1949, when he was 40, Goodman decided to study with Reginald Kell, one of the world's leading classical clarinetists. Reginald Clifford Kell ( June 8, 1906 – August 5, 1981) was a British Clarinettist. To do so, he had to change his entire technique: instead of holding the mouthpiece between his front teeth and lower lip, as he had done since he first took a clarinet in hand 30 years earlier, Goodman learned to adjust his embouchure to the use of both lips and even to use new fingering techniques. He had his old finger calluses removed and started to learn how to play his clarinet again--almost from scratch. ^[23]

Goodman commissioned and premiered works by leading composers for clarinet and symphony orchestra that are now part of the standard repertoire, namely Contrasts by Béla Bartók, Clarinet Concerto No. An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string brass woodwind sections and possibly a percussion section as well Contrasts ( Sz 111 BB 116 is a 1938 Clarinet-violin-piano trio composed by Béla Bartók. Béla Viktor János Bartók (March 25 1881&ndashSeptember 26 1945 was a Hungarian Composer and Pianist, considered to be one of the greatest 2 Op. 115 by Malcolm Arnold, Derivations for Clarinet and Band by Morton Gould and Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto. Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold, CBE (21 October 1921 – 23 September 2006 was an English Composer and symphonist. Morton Gould ( December 10, 1913 &ndash February 21, 1996) was an American Pianist, Composer, conductor Aaron Copland (November 14 1900 &ndash December 2 1990 was an American Composer of concert and film music as well as an accomplished Pianist. Aaron Copland 's Clarinet Concerto was written between 1947 and 1949 although a first version was already available in 1948 While Leonard Bernstein's Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs was commissioned for Woody Herman's big band, it was premiered by Goodman. WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes Prelude Fugue and Riffs is a "written-out" jazz-in-concert hall composition written by Leonard Bernstein for a jazz ensemble which features a solo Woodrow Charles Herman ( May 16 1913 &ndash October 29 1987) better known as Woody Herman, was an American Jazz While the Ebony Concerto by Igor Stravinsky is generally also thought to be written for Goodman, it was also written for Woody Herman in 1945, and premiered by him in 1946. Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (Игорь Фёдорович Стравинский) ( &ndash 6 April 1971 was a Russian born Composer, considered by many to "Many years later Stravinsky made another recording, this time with Benny Goodman as the soloist. "^[24] He twice recorded Mozart's clarinet quintet, once on April 25 1938 with the Budapest String Quartet and once in the middle 1950s with the Boston Symphony Orchestra String Quartet; he also recorded the Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart clarinet concerto in A major K 622 of on July 9, 1956, also with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the clarinet concertos from Carl Maria von Weber and Carl Nielsen. Wolfgang Mozart 's Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, K 581 was written in 1789 for the Clarinetist Anton Stadler. The Budapest Quartet was a String quartet in existence from 1917 to 1967 The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based at Symphony Hall in Boston Massachusetts, USA Mozart 's Clarinet concerto in A major, K 622 was written in 1791 for the clarinetist Anton Stadler. The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based at Symphony Hall in Boston Massachusetts, USA Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber ( 18 December 1786 in Eutin, Holstein, Germany - 5 June 1826 in London Carl Nielsen 's Concerto for Clarinet and orchestra op 57 '' was written for Danish Clarinetist Aage Oxenvad in 1928 ^[25]

Other recordings of classical repertoire by Goodman are:^[26]

• Premiere Rhapsodie for Clarinet by Claude Debussy
• Sonata no. Achille-Claude Debussy (aʃil klod dəbysi (August 22 1862 &ndash March 25 1918 was a French Composer. 2 in E flat by Johannes Brahms
• Rondo from Grand Duo Concertant in E flat from Carl Maria von Weber, and
• An arrangement by Simeon Bellison of van Beethoven's Variations on a theme from Mozart's Don Giovanni

Touring with "Satchmo"

After forays outside of swing, Goodman started a new band in 1953. Johannes Brahms ( pronounced ˈbʁaːms (May 7 1833 &ndash April 3 1897 was a German Composer Simeon Bellison ( December 4, 1883 – May 4, 1953) born in Moscow, he was naturalised American after settling in the US in 1921 Ludwig van Beethoven ( English ˈlʊdvɪg væn ˈbeɪtoʊvən, 16 December 1770 &ndash 26 March 1827 was a German Composer and Pianist. According to Donald Clarke, this was not a happy time for Goodman.

In 1953 Goodman re-formed his classic band for an expensive tour with Louis Armstrong’s All Stars that turned into a famous disaster. Louis Armstrong (August 4 1901 &ndash July 6 1971 nicknamed Satchmo or Sachimo and Pops, was an American Jazz Trumpeter He managed to insult Armstrong at the beginning; then he was appalled at the vaudeville aspects of Louis’s act [. . . ] a contradiction of everything Goodman stood for. ^[27]

The movies

Benny Goodman's band appeared as a specialty act in major musical features, including The Big Broadcast of 1937, Hollywood Hotel (1938), Syncopation (1942), The Powers Girl (1942), Stage Door Canteen (1943), The Gang's All Here (1943), Sweet and Lowdown (1944) and A Song Is Born (1948). Goodman's only starring feature was Sweet and Low Down (1944).

Goodman's success story was told in the 1955 motion picture The Benny Goodman Story^[28] with Steve Allen and Donna Reed. Steve Allen, born Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen ( December 26 1921 – October 30 2000) was an American Donna Reed ( January 27, 1921 - January 14, 1986) was an Academy Award -winning American actress. A Universal-International production, it was a follow up to 1954's successful The Glenn Miller Story. The screenplay was heavily fictionalized (Benny confessed that he and his wife would look at the finished film and laugh through it), but the music was the real drawing card. Many of Goodman's professional colleagues appear in the film, including Ben Pollack. Ben Pollack ( June 22, 1903 – June 7, 1971) was a Drummer and Bandleader from the mid 1920s through the swing Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton. Gene Krupa ( January 15, 1909 &ndash October 16, 1973) was an influential American Jazz and Big band Drummer Lionel Leo Hampton ( April 20, 1908 &ndash August 31, 2002) was an American Jazz Vibraphonist, Percussionist and Harry James. Harry James ( March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American Musician and Band leader, and a well-known

Personality and influence on American popular music

Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Many musicians spoke of "The Ray"^[29] , Goodman's trademark glare that he bestowed on a musician who failed to perform to his demanding standards. Guitarist Allan Reuss incurred the maestro's displeasure on one occasion, and Goodman relegated him to the rear of the bandstand, where his contribution would be totally drowned out by the other musicians. Vocalists Anita O'Day and Helen Forrest spoke bitterly of their experiences singing with Goodman. Helen Forrest ( April 12, 1917 &ndash July 11, 1999) was one of the most popular female Jazz vocalists during America's Big ^[30] "The twenty or so months I spent with Benny felt like twenty years," said Forrest. "When I look back, they seem like a life sentence. " He could also be incredibly self-absorbed; it is reported that when eating an egg onto which a ketchup bottle cap had fallen, Goodman simply ate around it. ^[13] At the same time, there are reports that he privately funded several college educations and was sometimes very generous, though always secretly. When a friend asked him why one time, he reportedly said, "Well, if they knew about it, everyone would come to me with their hand out. "^[30]

Some suggest that Elvis Presley had the same success with rock and roll that Goodman achieved with jazz and swing. Both helped bring black music to a young, white audience. Some suggest that without Goodman there would not have been a swing era. It is true that many of Goodman's arrangements had been played for years before by Fletcher Henderson's orchestra. Fletcher Hamilton Henderson Jr ( December 18, 1897 &ndash December 28, 1952) was an American pianist bandleader Arranger While Goodman publicly acknowledged his debt to Henderson, many young white swing fans had never heard Henderson's band. While most consider Goodman a jazz innovator, others maintain his main strength was his perfectionism and drive. Goodman was a virtuoso clarinetist and amongst the most technically proficient jazz clarinetists of all time.

Goodman is also responsible for a significant step in racial integration in America. Racial integration, or simply integration includes Desegregation (the process of ending systematic Racial segregation) In the early 1930s, black and white jazz musicians could not play together in most clubs or concerts. The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. In the Southern states, racial segregation was enforced by the Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enacted primarily but not exclusively in the Southern and border states of the United States between 1876 and 1965 Benny Goodman broke with tradition by hiring Teddy Wilson to play with him and drummer Gene Krupa in the Benny Goodman Trio. Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson ( November 24 1912 &ndash July 31 1986) was a jazz pianist from the United States A drummer is a Musician who plays a Drum or drums particularly a Drum kit ("drum set" or "trap set" Marching percussion Gene Krupa ( January 15, 1909 &ndash October 16, 1973) was an influential American Jazz and Big band Drummer In 1936, he added Lionel Hampton on vibes to form the Benny Goodman Quartet; in 1939 he added pioneering jazz guitarist Charlie Christian to his band and small ensembles, who played with him until his untimely death from tuberculosis less than three years later. Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Lionel Leo Hampton ( April 20, 1908 &ndash August 31, 2002) was an American Jazz Vibraphonist, Percussionist In Music, a quartet (quatuor Quartett quartetto cuarteto is a method of instrumentation (or a medium used to perform a musical composition and consisting of four parts Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The term jazz guitar may refer to either a type of guitar or to the variety of playing styles used in the various genres which are commonly termed " Jazz Charlie Christian (Charles Henry Christian ( 29 July 1916 &ndash 2 March 1942) was an American swing and Bebop To give an understanding of American history at this time, Goodman's integration of popular music happened ten years before Jackie Robinson became the first black American to enter Major League Baseball. Popular music is Music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and are disseminated by one or more Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31 1919 – October 24 1972 was a Baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. "[Goodman's] popularity was such that he could remain financially viable without touring the South, where he would have been subject to arrest for violating Jim Crow laws. "^[32] According to Jazz by Ken Burns, when someone asked him why he "played with that nigger" (referring to Teddy Wilson), Goodman replied, "I'll knock you out if you use that word around me again". Jazz A Film By Ken Burns is a documentary Miniseries directed by Ken Burns. Kenneth Lauren Burns (born July 29 1953) is an American director and producer of Documentary films known for his style of making use of archival Nigger is a Noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a derogatory context to refer to Black people, and also as an informal

John Hammond and Alice Goodman

One of Benny Goodman's closest friends off and on, from the 1930s onward was celebrated Columbia records producer John H. Hammond. John Henry Hammond II ( December 15, 1910 – July 10, 1987) was a Record producer, musician and music critic from the 1930s to the

John Henry Hammond II was born December 15, 1910 in an eight-story mansion in New York City. He was the son of James Henry Hammond, a very successful businessman and lawyer, and Emily Vanderbilt Sloane, an heir to the Sloan Furniture and - as a granddaughter of William Henry Vanderbilt - to the Vanderbilt fortunes. This article is about the railroad magnate For his grandson the governor of Rhode Island see William Henry Vanderbilt III. John H. Hammond II attended the esteemed Hotchkiss Prep School and Yale University. John Henry Hammond II ( December 15, 1910 – July 10, 1987) was a Record producer, musician and music critic from the 1930s to the ^[33]

Hammond and Goodman were so close that Hammond influenced Goodman's move from RCA records to the newly created Columbia records in 1939. ^[34] Benny Goodman dated John H. Hammond's sister, Alice Frances Hammond (? - 1978) for three months. John Henry Hammond II ( December 15, 1910 – July 10, 1987) was a Record producer, musician and music critic from the 1930s to the They married on March 14, 1942. They had two daughters, Benjie and Rachel. ^[35] Both daughters studied music to some degree, though neither became the musical prodigy Goodman was. Hammond had encouraged Goodman to integrate his band, having persuaded him to employ pianist Teddy Wilson. Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson ( November 24 1912 &ndash July 31 1986) was a jazz pianist from the United States He all but forced Goodman to audition Charlie Christian, Goodman believing no one would listen to an electric guitarist. But Hammond's tendency to interfere in the musical affairs of Goodman's and other bands led to Goodman pulling away from him. In 1953 they had another falling-out during Goodman's ill-fated tour with Louis Armstrong, which was produced by John Hammond. ^[36] Goodman appeared on a 1975 PBS salute to Hammond but remained at a distance. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the In the 1980s, following the death of Alice Goodman, John Hammond and Benny Goodman, both by then elderly, reconciled. On June 25, 1985, Goodman appeared at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City for "A Tribute to John Hammond". Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) ^[37]

Later years

After winning numerous polls over the years as best jazz clarinetist, Goodman was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1957. Down Beat is an American Magazine devoted to "jazz blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively

Goodman continued to play on records and in small groups. One exception to this pattern was a collaboration with George Benson in the 1970s. George Benson (b March 22 1943, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is an American musician whose recording career began at the age of twenty-one This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The two had met when they taped a PBS salute to John Hammond and re-created some of the famous Goodman-Charlie Christian duets. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the John Henry Hammond II ( December 15, 1910 – July 10, 1987) was a Record producer, musician and music critic from the 1930s to the Charlie Christian (Charles Henry Christian ( 29 July 1916 &ndash 2 March 1942) was an American swing and Bebop ^[38] Benson later appeared on several tracks of a Goodman album released as "Seven Come Eleven. " In general Goodman continued to play in the swing style he was most known for. He did, however, practice and perform classical music clarinet pieces and commissioned some pieces for the clarinet. Periodically he would organize a new band and play a jazz festival or go on an international tour.

Despite increasing health problems, he continued to play the clarinet until his death from a heart attack in New York City in 1986 at the age of 77. Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply The City of New York A longtime resident of Pound Ridge, New York, Benny Goodman is interred in the Long Ridge Cemetery, Stamford, Connecticut. Pound Ridge is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The same year, Goodman was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to "performers who during their lifetimes have made creative contributions of outstanding ^[39] Benny Goodman's musical papers were donated to Yale University after his death. ^[5]

He is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in the radio division. The National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame is a yearly honor from the National Association of Broadcasters. ^[40]

Discography

(This discography combines LP and CD reissues of Goodman recordings under the dates of the original 78 rpm recordings through about 1950)

• A Jazz Holiday (1928, Decca)
• Benny Goodman and the Giants of Swing (1929, Prestige)
• BG and Big Tea in NYC (1929, GRP)
• Swinging '34 Vols. 1 & 2 (1934, Melodean)
• Sing, Sing, Sing (1935, Bluebird)
• The Birth of Swing (1935, Bluebird)
• Original Benny Goodman Trio and Quartet Sessions, Vol. 1: After You've Gone (1935, Bluebird)
• Stomping at the Savoy (1935, Bluebird)
• Air Play (1936, Doctor Jazz)
• Roll 'Em, Vol. 1 (1937, Columbia)
• Roll 'Em, Vol. 2 (1937, CBS)
• From Spirituals to Swing (1938, Vanguard)
• Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert (1938, Columbia)
• Carnegie Hall Concert Vols. The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert by Benny Goodman, Columbia Records catalogue item SL-160 was first issued in 1950 1, 2, & 3 (Live) (1938, Columbia)
• Mozart Clarinet Quintet (with Budapest String Quartet) (1938, Victor)
• Ciribiribin (Live) (1939, Giants of Jazz)
• Swingin' Down the Lane (Live) (1939, Giants of Jazz)
• Featuring Charlie Christian (1939, Columbia)
• Eddie Sauter Arrangements (1940, Columbia)
• Swing Into Spring (1941, Columbia)
• Undercurrent Blues (1947, Blue Note)
• Swedish Pastry (1948, Dragon)
• Sextet (1950, Columbia)
• BG in Hi-fi (1954, Capitol)
• Mozart Clarinet concerto (with Boston symphomy) (1956)
• Peggy Lee Sings with Benny Goodman (1957, Harmony)
• Benny in Brussels Vols. Charlie Christian (Charles Henry Christian ( 29 July 1916 &ndash 2 March 1942) was an American swing and Bebop 1 & 2 (1958, Columbia)
• In Stockholm 1959 (1959, Phontastic)
• The Benny Goodman Treasure Chest (1959, MGM)
• "Benny Goodman And His Orchestra" (1977)
• The King Swings Star Line
• Pure Gold (1992)
• 1935-1938 (1998)
• Portrait of Benny Goodman (Portrait Series) (1998)
• Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert '38 (1998)
• Bill Dodge All-star Recording (1999)
• 1941-1955 His Orchestra and His (1999)
• Live at Carnegie Hall (1999)
• Carnegie Hall: The Complete Concert (2006) Remastered again

References

External links

• Benny Goodman official site
• Benny Goodman Biography at PBS Kids
• Benny Goodman scores (a portion of the musician's estate) in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
• Benny Goodman papers (the bulk of the musician's estate) in Irving S. Gilmore Music Library of Yale University