Benny Goodman Day‏

Today one of the most famous bandleaders 
of all time was born Chicago in 1909. 

Known as "The King of Swing" and rightfully 
so Benny Goodman was and remains one of 
the biggest names in jazz.

Jazz on the Tube pays tribute to his memory 
with a performance featuring a tune written 
by George Gershwin. 

Video:

http://www.30sjazz.com/page/11905.html

This clip of the "Benny Goodman Quartet" performing George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" was captured on December 17, 1959 during a television broadcast and features Benny Goodman (clarinet), Lionel Hampton (vibraphone) Jess Stacy (piano), and Gene Krupa (drums). 

(May 30, 1909 - June 13, 1986)

Benny Goodman was born in Chicago and grew up in the vicinity of Maxwell Street. 

He began music lessons at age ten and was influenced early on by New Orleans clarinetists like Johnny Dodds and Jimmie Noone who worked throughout the city. 

Following his fathers tragic death in 1926, Benny moved to New York where he found work as a session musician with the orchestra of Ben Pollack and later in the band's of Ben Selvin, Ted Lewis, Isham Jones, and Red Nichols.

Forming a group of his own he found national success via radio and is credited as being largely responsible for the official start of the swing ear kicked off by his three week engagement at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles in August 1935.

As a revolutionary bandleader he introduced new ideas to jazz with his big bands and lead the first integrated groups featuring Charlie Christian and Lionel Hampton.

Unlike many of his contemporaries Goodman's music never went out of style and he continued to delight audiences until his death in 1986.


- See more at: http://www.30sjazz.com/videos/benny-goodman/i-got-rhythm.html#sthash.xMmIGjaV.dpuf