Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
May 30, 1909
Place of Birth:
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Social Media
Benny Goodman
Biography
The King of Swing! Famed clarinetist, composer ("Stompin' at the Savoy") and conductor, educated at the Lewis Institute in Chicago and a student of Schillinger and Schoepp. He was a clarinetist with the orchestras of Bix Beiderbecke, Jules Herbuveaux, Arnold Johnson and Ben Pollack, and also played in Broadway theater orchestras. He began to lead his own orchestras in 1934 at the Billy Rose Music Hall, then conducted the orchestra on the weekly radio program "Let's Dance" in 1934-1935, and played at numerous hotels, colleges and theaters. Expanding his musical efforts, he performed in chamber music concerts, later touring throughout the US, Europe, the Far East, South America and the USSR and made many recordings. Joining ASCAP in 1945, his chief musical collaborators included Count Basie, Harry James, Mitchell Parish, Andy Razaf, Edgar M. Sampson, Chick Webb, and Teddy Wilson. Some of his other popular songs and instrumental compositions include "Lullaby in Rhythm," "Don't Be That Way," "Seven Come Eleven," "Flying Home," "Two O'Clock Jump," "Air Mail Special," "Dizzy Spells," "If Dreams Come True," "Georgia Jubilee," "Four Once More," and "The Kingdom of Swing".
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Charlie Parker: Bird Songs | Self (archive footage) |
| 2004 | Legends in Concert: Benny Goodman | |
| 2000 | The Sid Caesar Collection: The Magic of Live TV | Self (archive footage) |
| 1993 | Benny Goodman - Adventures In The Kingdom Of Swing | Self (archive footage) |
| 1983 | Åke Hasselgård story | |
| 1978 | Mitzi... What's Hot, What's Not | Self |
| 1976 | Copland Conducts Copland | Self - Clarinet |
| 1975 | Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? | Self (archive footage) |
| 1959 | John Gunther's High Road | Self |
| 1955 | Allen in Movieland | Self |
| 1955 | Music Land | Orchestra Leader (archive footage) |
| 1954 | Two for the Record | Self |
| 1948 | A Song Is Born | Professor Magenbruch |
| 1946 | Make Mine Music | Self (voice) |
| 1944 | Sweet and Low-Down | Benny Goodman |
| 1944 | The Shining Future | Self |
| 1943 | The Gang's All Here | Benny Goodman |
| 1943 | The Powers Girl | Self - Orchestra Conductor (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Stage Door Canteen | Benny Goodman |
| 1942 | Syncopation | Benny Goodman |
| 1941 | Birth of the Blues | Self (archive footage) |
| 1938 | Hollywood Hotel | Benny Goodman, Leader of His Orchestra |
| 1936 | The Big Broadcast of 1937 | Benny Goodman |
| 1929 | Me and the Boys | Self - Clarinet |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Jazz | Self (archive footage) |
| 1978 | The Kennedy Center Honors | Self |
| 1978 | Bio’s Bahnhof | Self |
| 1972 | Le Grand Échiquier | Self |
| 1968 | The Dick Cavett Show | Self - Guest |
| 1963 | The Danny Kaye Show | Self |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Self |
| 1959 | The Big Party | Self |
| 1959 | The Bell Telephone Hour | Self |
| 1957 | DuPont Show of the Month | Self |
| 1956 | The Dinah Shore Chevy Show | Self |
| 1950 | Star Time | Self - Musician |
| 1950 | What's My Line? | Self |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show | Self |