Benny Goodman

The future "King of Swing", Benjamin David Goodman, was born on the 30th May, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Jewish immigrants and grew up with 11 brothers and sisters. Benny Goodman learned to play the clarinet in a synagogue and took his first steps as a musician on the pleasure boats on the nearby Lake Michigan.
He worked for several years from the middle of the Twenties with Ben Pollack, but also played with several other bands. Goodman met the well-known music producer John Hammond in 1933, and was persuaded by Hammond to form his first big-band…

The addition of Harry James to Benny Goodman & His Orchestra in January 1937 gave Benny Goodman one of the greatest trumpet sections ever with James, Ziggy Elman, and Chris Griffin all able to play both solos and lead. Gene Krupa's drumming became increasingly assertive during this period, adding excitement to the band even if Goodman was not sure that he enjoyed the change in the group's sound. Helen Ward's decision to retire at the end of 1936 was unfortunate (she would never regain the fame that she had at that moment) and it would take Goodman much of 1937 before finding the right vocalist. But with that trumpet section, Jess Stacy, Krupa, and the Benny Goodman Trio and quartet, not to mention the leader's clarinet, this was a classic band - the most popular in the music world…

Benny's Girls: Benny Goodman's Rare Songbirds album by Benny Goodman was released Feb 15, 2005 on the Collectors' Choice Music label. Recording information: 08/16/1934-06/13/1951.

Beautiful collection of "The King of Swing" with almost 5 hours of great early recordings between 1936 and 1945. In mid thirties, the "swing" new jazz style, became very popular mainly due to Goodman's success in Palomar, California (1935) and his legendary performance at the New York Paramount in 1937. The decade 1936-1945 was very creative for the amazing father of the Swing era. As with all releases in the "Hall of Fame" Past Perfect series, you will find included a nice 40p booklet, with extensive information on the artist and his work.

Falling in Love With Benny Goodman is part of RCA's mid-line Falling in Love With series, which focuses on romantic highlights from classic big-band, swing, and jazz artists. There aren't any risky choices on Goodman's volume, but that's fine, since each of the title's 16 cuts - including "Body and Soul," "The Man I Love," "Moonglow," "In a Sentimental Mood," "These Foolish Things Remind Me of You," and "The Glory of Love" - sustains a mellow, romantic mood. This record may not really be necessary, but for anyone looking for lovely, romantic music from Goodman, it's not a bad choice at all.

Benny Goodman was the first celebrated bandleader of the Swing Era, dubbed "The King of Swing," his popular emergence marking the beginning of the era. He was an accomplished clarinetist whose distinctive playing gave an identity both to his big band and to the smaller units he led simultaneously. The most popular figure of the first few years of the Swing Era, he continued to perform until his death 50 years later.

The great jazz clarinetist delights us with an excellent album of classical music. Amazing and highly recommended!

Benny Goodman is heard in 1975 playing with four different combos. He performs four songs (including the unfortunate "Send in the Clowns") with a quintet that includes guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, adds trombonist Al Grey to a similar group for "Sweet Lorraine," and reunites with violinist Joe Venuti (who he had last recorded with in 1933) for spirited versions of "Slipped Disc" and "Limehouse Blues." Most noteworthy though, are the three numbers that find BG in a septet with guitarist George Benson. Their hot version of "Seven Come Eleven" is very memorable. Overall, this LP shows that at 66, Benny Goodman still remained a force to be reckoned with.