Contents
Benny Goodman
Leading a defining swing orchestra and prominent racially integrated jazz groups.
Sing, Sing, Sing · Carnegie Hall concert
- Born
- 30 May 1909
- Birthplace
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Died
- 13 June 1986
More people
Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman was an American clarinetist and bandleader whose broadcasts and concerts carried swing to a mass audience. He also performed classical music and commissioned works for clarinet.
Early life
Immigrant household
Grew up in a large, poor Chicago family.
Early lessons
Learned clarinet as a child and began professional work in his teens.
Career
- 1926
Touring musician
Joined Ben Pollack’s band.
- 1934–1935
Own orchestra
Gained national exposure through radio and touring.
- Later decades
Small groups and classical music
Continued recording and performing in varied ensembles.
Selected work
Sing, Sing, Sing
Recorded Louis Prima’s composition in a famous extended arrangement.
Carnegie Hall concert
Led a landmark swing concert.
Contrasts
Recorded Béla Bartók’s commissioned chamber work.
Beyond work
Integrated ensembles
Performed with Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton during widespread segregation.
Archives
His papers and recordings became part of Yale’s music collections.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Photo by Jammes J. Kriegsmann , New York. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
