Benny+Goodman+by+Lewis

Benny Goodman was known as the “King of Swing”. Swing is a style of jazz music popular in the 1930s and often arranged for a large dance band marked by a smoother beat than typical jazz. In fact he was so good, other musicians called him “the Professor”! Goodman was born in Chicago, IL on May 19th, 1909. Chicago was a great town to grow up in for a kid who liked jazz. In the 1920s, Chicago was where most of the greatest jazz musicians lived. At the age of 14, he joined a band. By the time he was 16 he was recognized for his amazing jazz as far away as the west coast and was asked to join a California-based band.

By 1934 Benny was seasoned enough for his first big break. He got together a group of musicians who shared his enthusiasm for jazz. That year his young band got to play on live television on NBC’s popular show,” Let’s Dance”. For the next four years his band toured around the country playing at famous places such as the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, Congress hotel in Chicago, and the Paramount Theatre. On January 16th, 1938 he reached the pinnacle of his career getting to play at Carnegie Hall which at the time was known as the nation’s greatest temple of musical art.

Benny died on January 16th, 1986 at the age of 77. He will always be known as “The Professor” to jazz fans and musicians like he is today, 70 years after playing at The Carnegie! All jazz musicians, in the past and presently, were in some way influenced by Benny Goodman. His burial location was Long Ridge Cemetary in Stamford, Connecticut. His wife was Alice Hammond Duckworth. He was the ninth of eleven siblings. He had two daughters; Rachel Edelson, and Benjie Lasseau.

Reference 1:http://[Goodman The Official Website of Swing.com|www.Benny Goodman The Official Website of Swing.com] Reference 2:http://[|www.Dictionary.com]/ By: Lewis