The Enigin Pez

Why Benny Goodman is The King of Swing

Jazz lovers would be familiar with Carnegie Hall, which has the distinction of hosting jazz greats for almost a century. Among those greats was Benjamin David Goodman, fondly known as Benny Goodman by jazz lovers. The American jazz musician, bandleader, and clarinetist, was aptly titled as ‘King of Swing’, by his followers. Goodman was able to break the barriers of poverty and with his clarinet went on to become the most successful jazz musicians in the Swing Era. Being one of the most popular jazz bands in America, Benny Goodman is responsible for launching the careers of several jazz greats. Most notably, the ‘King of Swing’ formed the first racially-integrated band at a time when color segregated most of America.

Born to poor Jewish immigrants in Chicago, Illinois, Benny was the ninth of the twelve children of David and Dora Goodman. From the age of 10, Benny’s father encouraged him and his older brothers to take music lessons at the Kehelah Jacob Synagogue. Soon, Benny was in a member of the boy’s club band at Jane Addams'Hull House, where he received lessons from James Sylvester, the director of Hull House. Franz Schoepp, a classically trained clarinetist also continued to instruct Goodman for two years. In his early years, Goodman was influenced by New Orleans jazz clarinetists that included Johnny Dodds and Jimmy Noone. Benny was good enough to turn pro at the age of 16 and joined the Ben Pollack Orchestra which led to his first recording sessions in 1926. This was the beginning of remarkable transformation of a child from the Jewish ghetto to the ‘King of Swing’.

Goodman is responsible for bringing jazz into the commercial mainstream. Lionel Hampton and Teddy Wilson were the first among Benny’s band members to break the color barrier. Moreover, Benny’s charisma and personality did wonders to hold them together as the band went from coast to coast gathering a large fan base. During the 1920s and 1930s Goodman played with bands led by Ben Selvin, and Red Nichols, among others. He got his own band together in 1934, where they played their first gig on an NBC radio program called LET’S DANCE. From then on, it was Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, the beginning of a never ending journey for the group. His 1938 performance at Carnegie Hall turned out to be the best-selling jazz albums of all time.

Benny Goodman’s secret of success can be attributed to his ability to play a popular dance-repertoire for a living and at the same time practice jazz improvisations and western classical music. This gave him a deep understanding of musical freedom, discipline, and a commercial appeal as well. The Swing era gave way to bebop, which saw a decline in big band as well. Benny still continued to weave magic with his clarinet and formed a number of big bands. Fletcher Henderson, Gene Krupa, Stan Getz, Peggy Lee, have all had the distinction of performing with the “King of Swing”. His love for the clarinet made him appear as a clarinet soloist in western classical ensembles in his later years, where he commissioned works from Bela Bartok, Paul Hindemith, and Aaron Copland. Goodman continued to tour in the 1960s and 1970s, until the early 1980s, before his death in New York on 13 June 1986. His music will always bring back sweet memories of a bygone era, and will continue to enthrall audiences young and old for many more decades.

Attention Holiday goers, I have finally been able to figure out what everyone is going to owe me for the Touring caravan insurance for our holiday this spring. Please try and get this to me by Wednesday so I can get it sorted out before we are ready to leave.