Weekend Music

 

The "King of Swing," bandleader and clarinetist Benny Goodman was born on this day in 1909.  In his heyday in the 1930's and 40's, his big band style of jazz became known as "swing" for its danceability. Goodman was among the first to lead integrated bands, which started the careers of many jazz musicians, including Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton.  His 1938 concert at Carnegie Hall has been called "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music." 

Here are two of his most familiar hits, 1936's "Moonglow" (with Goodman on clarinet, Teddy Wilson on piano, Lionel Hampton on vibraphone, and Gene Krupa on drums), and 1937's "Sing, Sing, Sing" (with Goodman's band, including Harry James on trumpet).