Some of the Black bands of the time, including Henderson’s own, had pioneered the swing sound. Benny Goodman was a clarinetist and bandleader responsible for multiple hit singles as a band leader before World War II. Goodman was the ninth of twelve children in a family of Russian Jews living in Chicago. Benjamin David Goodman, better known as 'Benny Goodman', was a leading jazz clarinet player and an outstanding bandleader of the Swing Era (1935-1945). "Room 1411" is a 1928 instrumental composed by Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman and released as a Brunswick 78 by Bennie Goodman's Boys. Clearly a musician and bandleader on the rise, Goodman had his first number one hit with the instrumental piece "Moonglow.". He has since starred in a number of films. From two years of study with the classical instructor Franz Schoepp, Goodman acquired the work habits and purity of tone that allowed him to perform adroitly in both the classical and jazz fields. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Wilson was hired at the behest of John Hammond, although Goodman feared the consequences of putting a Black musician in the lineup. Goodman usually reserved his most potent jazz for his small-group performances, which he initiated in 1935 with the establishment of the Benny Goodman Trio: Goodman, Krupa, and the gifted pianist Teddy Wilson. After leaving Pollack in 1929, Goodman worked for the next five years as a studio musician in New York City. (1964). 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. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Other legendary acts on the same bill included Count Basie and Duke Ellington and their bands. “Goodman was one of the most incredible players the field has ever known. Featuring guest artists from the bands of Duke Ellington and Count Basie, the evening was an unqualified success. Raised in Chicago, Goodman rose from poverty to become a virtuoso clarinetist and … Goodman also helped break down the color barrier in music at the time by having one of the first integrated bands. Starting his career as a bandleader in 1934, Goodman and his group landed a gig at Billy Rose's Music Hall. Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing".. He went on to tour the Soviet Union in 1962 as part of the U.S. State Department's cultural exchange program. He died of heart failure on June 13, 1986, in New York City—just days after his final performance. Goodman landed his first important job in 1925, when he joined the orchestra of Ben Pollack, one of the leading Dixieland drummers. Making his film debut, Goodman also appeared as himself in The Big Broadcast of 1937 (1936). Goodman's popularity continued to accelerate with 15 top 10 hits in 1936, including "Goody-Goody" and "You Turned the Tables on Me." Benny added Lionel Hampton, who would later form his own band, to his Benny Goodman Quartet the next year. Making music history again, Goodman's orchestra was one of the first to perform jazz at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall in 1938. I Found A New Baby - Goodman, Benny Sextet; 20. In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America. He scored only three top ten hits that year, including the number one hit "Darn That Dream." and "I Ain't Lazy, I'm Just Dreamin'" with vocals by Jack Teagarden. Biography. Omissions? Dubbed the “King of Swing ,” Goodman was also a complex personality whose relentless pursuit of perfection was reflected in his approach to music. Handy was an African American composer and a leader in popularizing blues music in the early 20th century, with hits like "Memphis Blues" and "St. Louis Blues.". Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Pianist Teddy Wilson, an African American, first appeared in the Benny Goodman Trio at the Congress Hotel in 1935. He did, however, release some material he had recorded before the ban and reached the top of the charts in 1943 with "Taking a Chance on Love" sung by Helen Forrest. Not only his music was unique and sensational, but it also reflected his relentless pursuit of perfection. In pioneering the small group, or “chamber jazz” ensemble, Goodman made perhaps his most lasting contribution to jazz history. Facts about Benny Goodman 2: the jazz music. As a bandleader, Goodman was known for being a demanding boss who sought technical perfection from his performers. His father worked as a tailor to try to provide for the large family, but money was always tight for the Goodmans. Boy Meets Girl (Grand Slam) - Goodman, Benny Sextet; 16. Gordon Parks was a prolific, world-renowned photographer, writer, composer and filmmaker known for his work on projects like Shaft and The Learning Tree. As an extraordinary clarinetist and bandleader, Goodman helped usher in the swing era in the 1930s — earning him the nickname "the King of Swing." "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. Goodman found work playing on the radio, in recording sessions, and in the orchestras of Broadway shows. In 1931, Goodman had his first taste of chart success on his own with the song "He's Not Worth Your Tears" with Scrappy Lambert on vocals. What social contributions is Goodman known for? Although some critics identified a lack of emotion and innovation in the music, the striving for perfection is what distinguished the band and was a major component in its success. He toured Europe in 1950. It wasn't until 1934 when Goodman finally forged a band of his own. A movie based on his life, The Benny Goodman Story, aired in 1955. The danceable swing style of big bands and bandleaders such as Benny Goodman was the dominant form of American popular music from 1935 to 1946, known as the swing era. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Goodman left school at 14 to join the American Federation of Musicians. The couple eventually had two daughters together, Rachel and Benjie. Benny Goodman was later crowned the ‘King of Swing’, yet his induction into musical royalty was preceded by both hardship and hard work. Optimism and Grace swing helped the nation to survive those dark days. "Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)" by Benny Goodman Orchestra, Live at Carnegie … He was also known for his classical recordings, the first of which was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ‘s Clarinet Quintet in A major, which he recorded with the … He also later recorded the soundtrack for the film about his life, The Benny Goodman Story (1955), which starred comedian Steve Allen as Goodman. During this period, Benny also became famous for being colorblind when it came to racial segregation and prejudice. Other Goodman hits from this time included "Ain't Cha Glad?" Benny Goodman, born Benjamin David Goodman, (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz musician, known as King of Swing, Patriarch of the Clarinet, The Professor, and Swing's Senior Statesman.. Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Two years later, Goodman moved to Los Angeles to join Ben Pollack's band. Benny Goodman is known as the king of swing. He went on to make several films, including Hollywood Hotel (1937), Syncopation (1942) and Sweet and Low-Down (1944).