ENDEIT
Benny Goodman
Photo: Photo by Jammes J. Kriegsmann , New York, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Clarinetists · 1909–1986

Benny Goodman

American jazz clarinetist and bandleader (1909–1986)

Born
30 May 1909
Chicago
Died
13 June 1986
New York City
Country
United States
Active
1926–1986
Record labels
Columbia Records, Capitol Records, RCA Victor, Chess Records, Bluebird Records
Discography
44 albums

Biography

Benny Goodman was a jazz musician who played clarinet. Benny Goodman was born on 30 May 1909 in Chicago and died on 13 June 1986 in New York City. The music is usually filed under jazz, swing and big band music. Record labels: Columbia Records, Capitol Records, RCA Victor and Chess Records. The discography here lists 44 albums, from “A Swing Session With Benny Goodman” (1938) to “This is Benny Goodman” (2022). Honours include Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1986), star on Hollywood Walk of Fame and Kennedy Center Honors.

Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader, known as the "King of Swing". From 1935 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on January 16, 1938, is described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music." Goodman's bands started the careers of many jazz musicians. During an era of racial segregation, he led one of the first integrated jazz groups, his trio and quartet. He continued performing until the end of his life while pursuing an interest in classical music.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

A Swing Session With Benny Goodman 1938 · Victor Session for Six 1950 · Capitol Records Easy Does It! 1952 · Capitol Records B.G. in Hi-Fi 1954 · Capitol Records Classics In Jazz 1954 · Capitol Records Benny Goodman Combos 1955 · Columbia The Benny Goodman Story, Vol. 1 1955 · Decca Records Benny Goodman plays selections from the Benny Goodman story 1956 · Capitol Records The Benny Goodman Story, Vol. 2 1956 · Decca Records Benny Goodman Plays World Favorites 1958 · Westinghouse Broadcasting Company Benny In Brussels Volume 2 1958 · Columbia Benny in Brussels Volume 1 1958 · Columbia Hello Benny! 1964 · Capitol Records Benny Goodman Today 1970 · Decca Records Trio And Quartet 'Vol 2' 1973 · CBS Benny Goodman in Stockholm 1959 1988 · Phontastic Benny In Brussels 1989 · CBS His Orchestra and his Combos 1941 - 1955 1990 · Giants of Jazz
Collection 1993
Giants of the Big Band Era: Benny Goodman 1993 · Pilz America Inc. The King Swings 1993 · Star Line Productions Yale Recordings, Volume 8: Recordings From Benny Goodman's Private Collection 1993 · MusicMasters Jazz In Moscow 1962 1995 · Giants of Jazz The Yale University Music Library - Benny Goodman - Volumes 9 and 10 1995 · Jazz Heritage The Classics 1996 · ARC Music Group The jazz masters 100 años de Swing 1996 · Folio Group Yale Recordings, Volume 10: The Original Benny Goodman Quartet 1996 · MusicMasters Jazz
Benny Goodman Trio & Quartet 1935/1938 1998
Ain't Misbehavin' 1999 · Hindsight Records Let's Dance 2001 · Membran Music Ltd. I Grandi Del Jazz - Benny Goodman - Verve Jazz Masters 33 2002 · RCS Quotidiani S.p.A. New Sextet Sessions 2003 · Ocium All that Jazz, Vol. 33: Benny Goodman – The Essentials, Vol. 2: Live at Basin Street 2015 · Jube Pops House Hop 2019 · Reborn Recordings Moon Glow 2019 · Reborn Recordings
Live in Hamburg 1981 2020 · Live
Absolutely The Best 2022 · LaserLight The Complete Happy Session Sessions (Restauración 2022) 2022 · Lantower This is Benny Goodman 2022 · Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman Today
Body and soul
Session for Sextet · Columbia Records
Three Classic Albums Plus
the legendary small groups

Also plays on

Albums where Benny Goodman is credited as a sideman

1948 Benny Goodman and His Orchestra and Sextet; Vocals by Peggy Lee — Benny Goodman and His Orchestra and Sextet, vocals by Peggy Lee clarinet
1981 Fantasma d'amore — Riz Ortolani clarinet
2019 Selected Sessions (1934-1943) — Coleman Hawkins clarinet

Standards written by Benny Goodman

TitleKeyFormGroove
A Smooth One F major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
Slipped Disc A♭ major AABACC · 48 Medium swing

Analysed solos by Benny Goodman

Awards

Films about Benny Goodman

1956The Benny Goodman Story1956 film by Valentine Davies

Historic 78 rpm records

  • BENNY GOODMAN Collectors' Gems (1929-1945) Reginald Forsythe · BENNY GOODMAN · Teddy Wilson · Benny Goodman &… archive.org ↗
  • BENNY GOODMAN Collectors' Gems (1929-1945) Rube Bloom & His Bayou Boys · The Modernists · Benny Goodman ·… archive.org ↗
  • 1. Da Da Strain; 2. Ballin The Jack Louisiana Rhythm Kings · Red Nichols · Jack Teagarden · Miff mole ·… archive.org ↗
  • BENNY GOODMAN CONCERT #3 BENNY GOODMAN archive.org ↗
  • Thats a Plenty Benny Goodman's Trio · Benny Goodman · Mel Stitzel · Bob Conselman ·… archive.org ↗
  • Clarinetitis Benny Goodman's Trio · Benny Goodman · Mel Stitzel · Bob Conselman archive.org ↗
  • "DR. HECKLE AND MR. JIBE" Benny Goodman and his Ork. · Mannie Klien · Charlie Teagarden · Jack… archive.org ↗
  • BENNY'S BOP (Now) Benny Goodman Sextet · Benny Goodman · Wardell Gray · Mary Lou… archive.org ↗

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Benny Goodman play?

Benny Goodman is known for playing clarinet.

When and where was Benny Goodman born?

Benny Goodman was born 30 May 1909 in Chicago.

What are Benny Goodman's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include A Swing Session With Benny Goodman (1938), Session for Six (1950), Easy Does It! (1952), B.G. in Hi-Fi (1954) and Classics In Jazz (1954).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.