Solid! -- Benny Goodman Biography

Benny Goodman

Hailed as the ''King of Swing,'' Benny Goodman was one of the early innovators of that genre and the first of its bandleaders to emerge as a national icon. Goodman's orchestra was nothing short of a sensation, an obsession to some. Teens and jazz fans alike flocked to see their idol in person. Often a Benny Goodman concert approached near riot status.

The King himself was born and raised in Chicago, where he studied music at the Hull House as a child. He began appearing with the local Benny Meroff Orchestra in 1922, and in 1926 joined Ben Pollack. His roommate during those days was a young Glenn Miller.

Goodman left Pollack in 1929 and became a successful studio musician in New York City. He formed his first regular orchestra in 1934 and recorded a few sides for Columbia. Arrangements provided by Fletcher Henderson helped Goodman establish a swing beat. Swing was almost unheard of in those days. Aside from the Casa Loma Orchestra no other swing outfit had managed to achieve any degree of success. Goodman, however, caught the ear of a radio producer, who hired him for a new program, a weekly three-hour dance band marathon featuring two other orchestras, those of Xavier Cugat and Kel Murray.

The following year, after a twenty-six week run on the radio, Goodman's agent booked him into New York's Roosevelt Hotel. The engagement turned out to be a dismal failure. Goodman then worked a series of one-nighters and continued to make recordings for Victor. He also formed his now famous trio (later a quartet and sextet) with legendary drummer Gene Krupa and pianist Teddy Wilson.

Sent on a cross-country tour by his agent, Goodman encountered negative reaction all along the way, until he reached Oakland. For the first time the band scored a resounding success, followed by another at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles. Radio broadcasts from the Palomar helped spread the word from coast-to-coast, and Goodman's orchestra was suddenly on top of the world.

After more one-nighters the group ended up at the Congress Hotel in Chicago, where they remained for eight months. During that time they made some of their most famous recordings. Helen Ward and Tommy Taylor were vocalists during this period. Band members included Krupa, Bunny Berigan, and later, Lionel Hampton, Harry James, and Ziggy Elman.

Goodman's orchestra opened in New York in October of 1936 to tremendous response and continued strong for the next three years. Ward left in 1937, to be replaced by a succession of female singers -- Ella Fitzgerald (on loan from Chick Webb), Margaret McCrae, Frances Hunt, Peg LaCentra and Betty Van -- before Goodman finally found a perfect fit in Martha Tilton.

In January 1938 the orchestra had its defining moment in a concert at Carnegie Hall which left tuxedoed guests dancing in their boxes. The glory lasted only a few weeks, however, when Krupa suddenly quit. A string of other departures in late 1938 and 1939, including that of Harry James to form his own orchestra, put stress on the group. Martha Tilton left and was replaced by Louise Tobin and then Helen Forrest. Goodman also switched labels, from Victor to Columbia, and in late 1939 he was diagnosed with sciatica.

Goodman tried to continue leading the orchestra but in July of 1940 was forced to take a leave of absence while he underwent treatment. He returned in October, and after a series of personnel changes his orchestra was back on top once again. Goodman also became involved in classical music, performing and guest conducting orchestras while still leading his swing outfit.

In 1941 Peggy Lee replaced Helen Forrest as female vocalist and the following year Dick Haymes replaced Al Lund as the male. By the end of 1942, though, Goodman's orchestra was beginning to feel the effects of the draft. He attempted to revitalize it and briefly succeeded in early 1943, but by the end of that year he finally gave up and disbanded it, using studio musicians to fulfill obligations. He made another try after the war, forming a new orchestra in 1945 which featured vocalists Jane Harvey, Bob Hayden, and Kay Penton, as well as trombonist Kai Winding and saxophonist Stan Getz. Though the band was a critical success the public's taste in music was changing, and Goodman, realizing the inevitable, decided to pull the plug for good in late 1946.

Goodman continued performing, but not with a group of his own until the late 1950s when he led orchestras on goodwill tours around the world. He later occasionally reunited with members of his quartet. Benny Goodman died in 1986.

Solid!

The encyclopedia of big band, lounge, classic jazz and space-age sounds.

Benny Goodman

Born

Died

Full Name

Marriage

Theme Songs

Benny Goodman