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

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Mike Douglas Show

What's My Line?

The Dick Cavett Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

Le Grand Échiquier

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

All Movies (29)

• Charlie Parker: Bird Songs2022 · as Self (archive footage)
• Legends in Concert: Benny Goodman2004
• Swing With Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Tony Bennett2001
• The Sid Caesar Collection: The Magic of Live TV2000 · as Self (archive footage)
• Louis Armstrong & Benny Goodman - Sounds in Motion2000
• The World of Polygoon1994 · as Self (archive footage)
• Benny Goodman - Adventures In The Kingdom Of Swing1993 · as Self (archive footage)
• Åke Hasselgård story1983
• Mitzi... What's Hot, What's Not1978 · as Self
• Copland Conducts Copland1976 · as Self - Clarinet
• Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?1975 · as Self (archive footage)
• John Gunther's High Road1959 · as Self
• The All-Star Christmas Show1958 · as Self
• Allen in Movieland1955 · as Self
• Music Land1955 · as Orchestra Leader (archive footage)
• Two for the Record1954 · as Self
• A Song Is Born1948 · as Professor Magenbruch
• All the Cats Join In1946
• Make Mine Music1946 · as Self (voice)
• Sweet and Low-Down1944 · as Benny Goodman
• The Shining Future1944 · as Self
• The Gang's All Here1943 · as Benny Goodman
• Stage Door Canteen1943 · as Benny Goodman
• The Powers Girl1943 · as Self - Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
• Syncopation1942 · as Benny Goodman
• Birth of the Blues1941 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hollywood Hotel1938 · as Benny Goodman, Leader of His Orchestra
• The Big Broadcast of 19371936 · as Benny Goodman
• Me and the Boys1929 · as Self - Clarinet

All TV Shows (15)

• Jazz2001 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Kennedy Center Honors1978 · as Self
• Bio’s Bahnhof1978 · as Self
• Le Grand Échiquier1972 · as Self
• The Dick Cavett Show1968 · as Self - Guest
• The Danny Kaye Show1963 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
• The Big Party1959 · as Self
• The Bell Telephone Hour1959 · as Self
• DuPont Show of the Month1957 · as Self
• The Dinah Shore Chevy Show1956 · as Self
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self