Song:Sing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing) Parts 1 & 2
Album:The Fabulous Swing Collection
Benny Goodman was The King Of Swing and ushered in the Swing Era of the late 30s. But he was also an inportant figure in the integration of black and white musicians in jazz. He was born May 30, 1909 in Chicago. He learned to play clarinet in the synagogue and by age 14 had quit school to become a professional musician. He first recorded in the Ben Pollock band in 1925 and then moved to New York in 1929 and played many sessions. Goodman signed with Columbia in 1934 and had several hits until switching to RCA/Bluebird in 1935. It was in 1935 that Goodman would record this version of Sing, Sing, Sing. The song would become more popular as a result of his landmark 1938 Carnegie Hall concert. This various artists comp on RCA is a very good intro to swing for beginners. As I said, Benny Goodman was likely the first bandleader to have an integrated band. He used singers like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald and also featured black musicians like Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson & Charlie Christian. And musicians like Gene Krupa & Harry James also became famous with his band. Despite increased competition from watered down swing bands like Glenn Miller & The Dorsey Brothers, Benny Goodman continued to maintain his popularity through World War II. Goodman's run ended when bebop emerged. He never tried to adjust and just continued to play in the same dated style. Benny Goodman toured and recorded until his death on June 13, 1986 at age 77. Here's the Benny Goodman Orchestra featuring Gene Krupa, Harry James, Lionel Hampton & Teddy Wilson performing Sing, Sing, Sing in the 1937 film Hollywood Hotel.
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