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Benny Goodman

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Benny Goodman, born Benjamin David Goodman, (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz musician, known as King of Swing, Patriarch of the Clarinet, The Professor, and Swing’s Senior Statesman.

Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Many musicians spoke of The Ray, Goodman’s trademark glare that he bestowed on a musician who failed to perform to his demanding standards. Anita O’Day and Helen Forrest spoke bitterly of their experiences singing with Goodman. “The twenty or so months I spent with Benny felt like twenty years,” said Forrest. “When I look back, they seem like a life sentence.” He could also be incredibly self-absorbed; it is reported that when eating an egg onto which a ketchup bottle cap had fallen, Goodman simply ate around it. At the same time, there are reports that he privately funded several college educations and was sometimes very generous, though always secretly. When a friend asked him why one time, he reportedly said, “Well, if they knew about it, everyone would come to me with their hand out.”

Some suggest that Elvis Presley had the same success with rock and roll that Goodman achieved with jazz and swing. Both helped bring black music to a young, white audience. Without Goodman there would not have been a swing era.

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jazz, swing, big band, clarinet, oldies
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Top Tracks

1	Sing, Sing, Sing full track	475
2	Let's Dance full track	427
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6	One O'Clock Jump full track	305
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8	Bugle Call Rag full track	253
9	Sing Sing Sing full track	244
10	Jersey Bounce full track	198
11	Body And Soul full track	182
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johntardsbaby66 wrote:
last week

can't help shakin mah booty

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kiicz wrote:
October 2009

http://www.lastfm.pl/music/Benny+Goodman/+images/36249879 :)

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pianolove17 wrote:
October 2009

i wish i lived back in the 40's......

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Mark_0ne wrote:
September 2009

epic

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IBeforeWe wrote:
September 2009

swing is definitely awesome, and benny goodman is definitely the best artist of all those involved in the genre.

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blaue_ink wrote:
September 2009

amazing :)

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blaue_ink wrote:
September 2009

Benny rocks ! :)

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Giga-man wrote:
August 2009

Brilliant. Loved this man's music ever since I was 8.

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jeanmoriarty wrote:
August 2009

king of swing

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dontNOTlisten wrote:
July 2009

This guy was pretty damn good. My personal favorite is 'One O clock Jump' Gets me movin everytime.

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johntardsbaby66 wrote:
July 2009

pretty damn good.

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GreenDay9183 wrote:
July 2009

ahhhhh makes my butt rumble

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kicsi_nyuszi wrote:
June 2009

awesome! :)

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Kovanov wrote:
June 2009

clarinet!

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mito_urbano wrote:
June 2009

Clarinet players ftw. [2]

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Levittoux wrote:
May 2009

Hail to the King! 30th May 1909 - 30th May 2009!

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PxUnit wrote:
March 2009

Clarinet players ftw.

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eLIPeA wrote:
March 2009

He was so amazing.

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ElBarraz wrote:
March 2009

I like to play the trumpet solo in Sing, Sing, Sing =D

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poppy4arengo wrote:
February 2009

Wish I could jive to this. Trouble is.....can't jive!

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Ruzzi13, cgull63, mattiusr and 24 other people added Benny Goodman to their libraries. 19 minutes ago
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