Benny goodman brief biography of william
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Goodman, Benny
Goodman, Benny (actually Benjamin David), American bandleader and clarinetist; b. Chicago, May 30, 1909; d. N.Y, June 13, 1986. Goodman popularized swing music and was its most successful early practitioner. An accomplished clarinetist, Goodman dominated both his big band and smaller groups, combining a high level of jazz proficiency with enormous commercial appeal. Among the many major hits he scored in the 1930s and 1940s, the most popular were ”And the Angels Sing,” “Goodnight, My Love’ “Goody Goody,” and “Taking a Chance on Love.”
Goodman was the ninth child of Russian immigrants David and Dora Rezinsky Goodman. His father was a tailor, and his early years were spent in extreme poverty. At the age of ten he began taking clarinet lessons at a synagogue, then joined the band at the settlement home Hull House and took lessons from Franz Schoepp. He first played professionally at the age of 12 and was soon performing in bands around Chicago, dropping out of h
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The Benny Goodman papper
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Collection
Call Number: MSS 53
Scope and Contents
This lista currently describes scores and/or parts to musical arrangemang written for Benny Goodman's bands, orchestras, and combos. Some sound recordings are also included. The papper also include published music in Goodman's collection; correspondence (including letters from many prominent musicians and political figures); photographs; scrapbooks; concert programs and publicity materials; scripts, interviews, and articles; financial and legal documents; awards, honors, and academic regalia; additional sound recoridings and bio reels; and miscellaneous other items. Descriptions of these materials will be added to the register at a later date.
Dates
Creator
- Goodman, Benny, 1909-1986
- Basie, Count, 1904-1984
- Bunch, John, 1921-2010
- Burns, Ralph, 1922-2001
- Clayton, Buck, 1911-1991
- Cohn, Al, 1925-1988
- Edwards, Teddy, 1924-2003
- Ellington, Duke, 189
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‘King of Swing’ Benny Goodman Dies at Age 77
Benny Goodman, the eloquent clarinetist proclaimed the “King of Swing” when his dance band suddenly soared to fame in the mid-1930s and who epitomized an era in popular American music, died Friday in his Manhattan apartment after an apparent heart attack. He was 77.
His body was found shortly after 2:30 p.m. (EDT) by his housekeeper, Anna Lekander. His secretary, Lloyd Rausch, said the death was not made public for a time because one of the legendary musician’s daughters could not be reached immediately.
“I spoke with him at 1 p.m. and there was no indication of any problem,” Rausch said. Police said Goodman appeared to have been taking a nap on a guest room couch in his East 66th Street apartment when he died in his sleep.
No funeral services had yet been arranged.
In Semi-Retirement
Goodman had recovered from several illnesses and had been in semi-retirement until early this year when he began to perform at a few concerts. In Marc