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Benny Goodman: Jasmine Alfaro P.8
Benny Goodman: Jasmine Alfaro P.8
P.8
Benny Goodman
Jasmine Alfaro
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Benny Goodman was born on May 30, 1909, in Chicago, Illinois. As an extraordinary
clarinetist and bandleader, Benny Goodman helped usher in the swing era in the 1930s—earning
him the nickname "the King of Swing." The son of Russian immigrants, he was the ninth child
born into the family and eventually he would have a total of eleven siblings. His father worked as
a tailor to try to provide for the large family, but money was always tight for the Goodman.
At the age of 10, Goodman went to study music at Kehelah Jacob Synagogue. He studied
the clarinet with Franz Schoepp who was a member of the Chicago Symphony. At Hull-House, a
settlement house that provided social services to the community, Goodman joined the band there.
He quickly excelled at his instrument and made his professional debut in 1921. Playing with
local bands, Goodman became a member of the American Federation of Musicians at the age of
Goodman teamed up with jazz promoter John Hammond in 1933 to make some
recordings, including a few tracks with an up-and-coming jazz singer named Billie Holiday.
Their work together resulted in the 1934 top ten hit "Riffin' the Scotch." Other Goodman hits
from this time included "Ain't Cha Glad?" and "I Ain't Lazy, I'm Just Dreamin'" with vocals by
Jack Teagarden.
Starting his career as a bandleader in 1934, Goodman and his group landed a gig at Billy Rose's
Music Hall. The Benny Goodman Orchestra then became a regular act on the NBC radio show,
Let's Dance, that same year. Clearly a musician and bandleader on the rise, Goodman had his
In 1935, Goodman went on the road with his orchestra, which at the time included
trumpeters Ziggy Elman and Harry James, pianists Jess Stacey and Teddy Wilson, and drummer
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Gene Krupa among others. (Lionel Hampton was added later.) One date on the tour made
history: August 21, 1935. That night, the orchestra wowed the audience at the Palomar Ballroom
in Los Angeles—an event that many cite as the beginning of the swing era. Goodman also
helped break down the color barrier in music at the time by having one of the first integrated
bands.
Goodman's popularity continued to accelerate with 15 top ten hits in 1936, including
"Goody-Goody" and "You Turned the Tables on Me." Returning to the radio, he became the host
of Camel Caravan that year. The program ran until 1939. Making his film debut, Goodman also
appeared as himself in The Big Broadcast of 1937. He went on to make several films, including
Goodman's orchestra was one of the first to perform jazz at New York City's famed
Carnegie Hall in 1938. Other legendary acts on the same bill included Count Basie and Duke
Ellington and their bands. He also released one of his most trademark songs, "Sing, Sing, Sing
(with a Swing)," that same year, which was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. As a
bandleader, Goodman was known for being a demanding boss who sought technical perfection
from his performers. Many of his players left to start their own groups, including Gene Krupa
and Harry James. Around this time, Goodman also faced competition from other popular
By 1940, Goodman's meteoric career showed signs of fading. He scored only three top
ten hits that year, including the number one hit "Darn That Dream." Some of his other hits from
this era were "There'll Be Some Changes Made," sung by Louise Tobin, and "Somebody Else Is
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Taking My Place" with vocals by Peggy Lee. In 1942, Goodman married John Hammond's
sister, Alice. The couple eventually had two daughters together, Rachel and Benjie.
After World War II ended in 1945, the jazz scene began changing, moving more toward
bebop style and away from swing. Goodman eventually broke up his big band and performed
with small groups over the years. With musician-comedian Victor Borge, he hosted a radio show
for a time.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Goodman spent a lot of time abroad. He toured Europe in 1950.
In 1956, Goodman toured the Far East for the U.S. State Department. He went on to tour the
Soviet Union in 1962 as part of the U.S. State Department's cultural exchange program.
Reuniting with Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, and Lionel Hampton, Goodman returned to
the charts with Together Again!. His next major album was the 1971 concert album Benny
Despite his failing health, Goodman continued to perform during the 1980s. He died of
heart failure on June 13, 1986, in New York City—just days after his final performance. Before
not long before his death, he had received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award as well as
featured on a postage stamp in 1996 as part of the Legends of American Music series. Benny