Known throughout the years as “The King of Swing,” Benny Goodman was the ninth of 12 children. He was born in the Maxwell Street neighborhood of Chicago on May 30, 1909 to poor Jewish immigrants from Russia.
At 10 years old, Benny Goodman was enrolled in music lessons at the Kehelah Jacob Synagogue. Within a year, young Benny had signed up for the boys club band at Chicago’s famous Jane Addams’ Hull House. His early influences included the classically trained Franz Schoepp, as well as jazz clarinet players Johnny Dodds, Leon Roppolo and Jimmy Noone. Benny Goodman caught on quickly, and he was soon a consummate professional in the world of music.
At 16, Goodman joined the famous Chicago group, the Ben Pollack Orchestra. He made his first recording with the group and stayed with the orchestra until 1929. He also participated in numerous side projects during this time. For example, Goodman played with The Hotsy Totsy Gang, the Dixie Daisies and the Kentucky Grasshoppers during these years.
Sadly, in 1929 following Benny’s urging for his father to retire thanks to the professional success of Benny and his brother Harry in music, his father was struck by a car and killed as he stepped down from a street car. The event haunted Benny for years. He deeply regretted the fact that his father was never able to witness the extent of his musical success that was yet to come.
Shortly after his father’s death, Benny Goodman moved to New York City to make a name for himself at the national level. He played under several different band leaders and was even a featured clarinetist in Charlie Chaplin’s 1934 film, “One A.M.”
Goodman purchased song books from Fletcher Henderson in 1934 in order to prepare his band for a weekly gig on NBC’s radio program, “Let’s Dance.” While the show was never a huge success, the influence of Henderson’s music on Goodman proved to be a pivotal point in his career.
When the radio show was canceled, Goodman and his band headed out to tour America. Because their sound was ahead of its time, the band soon became flat broke and nearly gave up the tour. However, in July 1935 at the Palomar Ballroom in California, things changed. The show was supposed to be the tour’s last stop before they broke up the band.
The audience went crazy for Benny Goodman and his band that night. The group soon found themselves setting the jazz trends of the day and playing at venues like Carnegie Hall. Goodman brought swing to the forefront of American and even international culture. His big band, sextet, trio and quartet were hugely successful during the following decade, and he influenced nearly every jazz player that followed after him.
You have likely seen the US Army band “Pershing’s Own” at various occasions or playing taps, the beautiful and stirring music played as a final tribute to fallen soldiers. Started in 1922, the US Army Band has played a significant role in major US events and happenings.
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