Benny James 01 Birdsongs

Rockstar Records present a twenty-nine song CD album entitled Benny Joy, Little Red Book with recordings from the years 1957 to 1963. There are two recordings which are dually credited to Benny Joy and "Big" John Taylor, and one solo "Big"John Taylor release. Their initial recording from the year 1957 "Hey"… High School Baby! b/w Spin The Bottle were released using only Benny Joy’s name, and they were recorded for the Haines City, Florida based Tri-Dec label. The CD album includes the Dixie version of Spin The Bottle which was the undubbed master leased to Shelby Singleton who added his name to the writing credits.

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 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. Goodman was the son of Russian immigrants David Goodman, a tailor, and Dora Rezinsky Goodman. He first began taking clarinet lessons at ten at a synagogue, after which he joined the band at Hull House, a settlement home.

Benny Goodman Story album by Benny Goodman was released Oct 31, 1995 on the Blue Note label. Recorded for Capitol around the time of his 1955 Hollywood biopic, here's over an hour of Benny and very hot band revisiting his most swingin' hits. Benny Goodman Story CD music Digitally remastered by Jeff Rach. Benny Goodman Story songs Recorded at the Riverside Plaza Hotel, New York, New York on December 7, 8 & 14, 1955.

The complete long unavailable LP, Benny Goodman Swings Again (Columbia CS8379), FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON CD. It features an all-star formation of the Goodman orchestra, including Jack Sheldon, Flip Phillips, Red Norvo, and Russ Freeman, as well as one sextet and two quintet tracks. This music was recorded with professional equipment live at Ciro’s, in Hollywood. As a bonus, we have added seven rare tracks from the same period, including four alternate versions of tunes from Benny Goodman Swings Again…