Essay on Benny Goodman, King of Swing - 2395 Words

Benjamin David Goodman was born in Chicago on May 30, 1909, the ninth of twelve children born to David and Dora Goodman, who both emigrated from Russia but met in America. David Goodman eked out a minimal living for his family by working for a tailor in a sweatshop. To help alleviate the family’s poverty, the children were urged to work as soon as they were old enough. For entertainment, David would take his youngest children to Douglas Park on Sundays to hear free band concerts. It was here that he first heard of the Kehelah Jacob band. Lessons were given for one quarter at the Kehelah Jacob synagogue. David Goodman enrolled his three youngest sons with the hopes that one day, their music would lift them out of poverty. It was here†¦show more content†¦This led to his first professional gig in 1921 in a vaudeville show at Central Park Theater. In 1923, at the age of 14, Benny Goodman left school to play with local bands, including Bill Grimm’s riverboat orchestra with Bix Beiderbecke. There is an interesting anecdote about Benny’s first meeting with Bix. One day, Benny received an emergency call from Grimm, asking him to fill in for Grimm’s clarinetist, who was ill. Benny arrived early in the day at the dock where the boat on which he was to perform was moored. Benny stepped onto the bandstand and immediately heard a shout to â€Å"get off there, kid! Stop that fooling around!† (Benny Goodman, 1979) Benny turned to see a fellow about four or five years older, holding a trumpet and staring disdainfully at Benny. That fellow, Bix Beiderbecke, did not want to hear any explanations from this young kid in knickers. However, Bill Grimm arrived before any trouble could start and introduced the boys. The young men hit it off and much fun and great music stemmed from that first session together. At that same time, Benny and his high school friends had earned the nickname, â€Å"The Wild West Side Mob†, not for their behavior, but because of their free, ragged, style of jazz. While this style made them great jam session musicians, it made it difficult for them to find work. Hot jazz was not in demand. Nevertheless, Benny’s ability to play cool, sweet jazz on demand ensured that he found plenty ofShow MoreRelatedBenny Goodman s King Of Swing1363 Words   |  6 PagesBritany Reed Dr. Keast Music April 15, 2015 Benny Goodman Benny Goodman the â€Å"King of Swing†. A man who owned the American Jazz and an amazing swing musician, clarinetist, and bandleader. This naming him as the infamous â€Å"King of Swing†. Goodman led the most popular musical groups known in America. Goodman was recognized as putting the most important jazz concert in history out to the public in 1938. Singlehandedly being the most recognized clarinet player for this era and doing it flawlesslyRead More SING SING SING Essay examples1262 Words   |  6 Pagestheir was so much energy and pizzazz in this music. He explained to me that it was all put together by a guy named Benny, and I understood why. Benny Goodman, born Benjamin David in 1909, one of twelve children, grew up in a Chicago ghetto with his family, who fled Russian anti-Semitism. Encouraged by his father, an immigrant tailor, to learn a musical instrument, Goodman took up the clarinet at a young age. From the start, he displayed an exceptional talent. Before he was in his teensRead MoreThe Great Depression And President Roosevelt s New Deal894 Words   |  4 PagesIssue†). Benny Goodman, however, broke this barrier, initially in 1935 with the first interracial jazz performance, and again in his 1938 Carnegie Hall concert featuring black musicians. Benny Goodman’s career did not commence with the Trio’s 1935 performance; a clarinet player from a young age, Goodman initiated his professional career in 1925 as a member of the Ben Pollack Orchestra. During his time with the orchestra, he recorded his first solo on the song â€Å"He’s the Last Word.† In 1931, Benny GoodmanRead MoreThe Great Depression And President Roosevelt s New Deal895 Words   |  4 PagesIssue†). Benny Goodman, however, broke this barrier, initially in 1935 with the first interracial jazz performance, and again in his 1938 Carnegie Hall concert featuring black musicians. Benny Goodman’s career did not begin with the Trio’s 1935 performance; a clarinet player from a young age, Goodman started his professional career in 1925 as a member of the Ben Pollack Orchestra. During his time in the orchestra, he recorded his first solo on the song â€Å"He’s the Last Word.† In 1931, Benny Goodman beganRead More The Jazz Age Essay1590 Words   |  7 Pagessongs quot;Orys Creole Trombonequot; and quot;Society Bluesquot; where recorded in Los Angeles in 1922. After 1923 the flood gates were open and African American Jazz became widely recorded. 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She could sing sultry ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in an orchestra. She worked with all the jazz greats, from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Nat King Cole, to Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman. (Or rather, some might say all the jazz greats had the pleasure of working with Ella.) She performed at top venues all over the world, and packed them to the hilt. Her audiences were as diverse as her vocal range. TheyRead MoreThe Radio And Its Impact On America1403 Words   |  6 Pagesof a star that owed his fame to the radio was Benny Goodman, often called the â€Å"King of Swing† (Britannica). He played clarinet for a band and his band became popular due to a spot on the radio show Let’s Dance. On a tour they almost considered quitting because of the dislike of their new style of music, but when they performed at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles where the crowd, many fans of Let’s Dance, went crazy (Britannica). 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