Benjamin David Goodman was born in Chicago on May 30, 1909, the ninth of twelve children born to David and Dora Goodman, who both emigrated from Russia but met in America. David Goodman eked out a minimal living for his family by working for a tailor in a sweatshop. To help alleviate the family’s poverty, the children were urged to work as soon as they were old enough. For entertainment, David would take his youngest children to Douglas Park on Sundays to hear free band concerts. It was here that
that their was so much energy and pizzazz in this music. He explained to me that it was all put together by a guy named Benny, and I understood why. Benny Goodman, born Benjamin David in 1909, one of twelve children, grew up in a Chicago ghetto with his family, who fled Russian anti-Semitism. Encouraged by his father, an immigrant tailor, to learn a musical instrument, Goodman took up the clarinet at a young age. From the start, he displayed an exceptional talent. Before he was in his teens,
1930’s on the recommendation of Jack Hammond a bandleader named Benny Goodman purchased several tunes from Fletcher Henderson. Up to this point in history what were called “hot tunes” were mostly played publicly by African-American bands, while what were considered “sweet tunes” were played by Jewish and White bands, this remained true even though many “sweet” bands actually preferred the hot tunes by the African –American bands. When Goodman started playing the hot tunes responses were mixed. In 1935
The Swing Era of Jazz The Swing Era of the 1930s through the 1940s and World War II ultimately go hand in hand. The popularization of Swing music was upon society, and in some parts of the world, led people to behave in somewhat of a rebellious nature. With the onset of World War II, men were drafted and had to leave their homes, loved ones and work. Music being an integral part of society at this time, was put into a position that it would help in the boosting of morale and be useful in promotion
Legendary jazz songstress Billie Holiday once said in response to the exclusion of African Americans from jazz clubs on the notorious 52nd Street, “You can be up to your boobies in white satin, with gardenias in your hair and no sugar cane for miles, but you can still be working on a plantation.” The comparison between the jazz world, or more specifically 52nd Street, and a plantation show the immense racial tension between blacks and whites in the early to mid part of the twentieth century. In
William James Basie's Biography During the heyday of the swing era, many big bands flourished. Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, and Chick Webb fronted big bands that could swing, but none of these legends could swing like the Count Basie Orchestra. Count Basie proved that a big band could still swing, without losing the spontaneity so essential to jazz. William James Basie was born August 21, 1904 in Red Bank, New Jersey (Hare, par. 3). His father was a coachman and caretaker for
Billie was born to the name, Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915. She was born in Philadelphia but grew up in the Fell's Point section of Baltimore. Her mother, was just 13 at the time of her birth; her father, was 15. Holidays' teenage parents, Sadie Harris (aka Fagan) and probable father, Clarence Holiday, never married, and they did not live together for a long time. Clarence, a banjo and guitar player worked with Fletcher Henderson's band in the early 30s. He remains a shady figure who left his family
their version of Big Band inspired, Dixieland Jazz infused "Swing" music at the Famous Door Club, the entire 52nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway was dubbed "Swing Street." Thus, a whole new era of music began. Even the "King Of Swing," Benny Goodman wouldn't have near the notoriety without the Prima penned "Sing Sing Sing," which is still considered a Swing Era classic. "Sing Sing Sing," was originally written for a small orchestra and included vocals, this original arrangement is featured
Over 84 years ago New York was the city of swing. In a realm where culture clashed with politics, race with class and gender with society most teenagers spent an ample amount of their spare time dancing to the music of Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and the likes of others. With the music, blasting in their ears and sweat dripping of their skin the youth was engulfed in a period that would come to stand as a turning point for African-Americans. Despite the rage of the music, there is
In the mid 1930s, Benny Goodman sparked the beginning of the Swing Era of jazz music shortly after leading his first band, which was monumental to the development of jazz. This marked a transition from the early Jazz Age, which resulted from combining aspects of ragtime and blues music over the previous two decades. Through Goodman’s live performances at various gigs and NBC’s radio show Let’s Dance, he gained increased recognition as a jazz performer and band leader. Following his pivotal Palomar
Count Basie and his Orchestra In the 1930’s a new era was taking place in jazz. The swing era, otherwise known as the big band era. One of the biggest and most influential leaders of this era was William Basie, otherwise known as The Count, or Count Basie. Basie was among many of the leaders in this era, known for his leadership skills as a band leader and a cunning pianist. Basie was known for having one of the best combo section, or rhythm section around. His rhythm section featured among the best
The collaboration of two of some of the most influential musicians to not just happen to jazz but to the evolution of music is bound to be pioneering. This wasn’t the first time that Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong performed together, however, it was the first of three times for it to be released as a studio album. Norman Granz was responsible for the creation of the pairing as he worked for the Verve recording label. Granz selected eleven melodies that maintained a slow to moderate tempo to
The concerto written for Benny Goodman by Aaron Copland has been a piece a popular piece of music. This concerto is a large work for clarinet and the orchestra, or piano. It is very free and expressive. Many jazz elements can be found throughout the piece. Although Aaron Copland’s work, titled Concerto, is given the form concerto by its name, he followed in the path of many twentieth century composers and used the name of a classical form but changed many basic elements of it. The classical example
Vaudeville was very popular from the late 1800s to the early 1900s in North America. Vaudeville shows were made up of many random acts that were placed together in a common play bill. Some acts were, for example, plays, clowns, jugglers, comedians, etc. Once the radio was introduced, vaudeville’s started to become less popular as the radio’s popularity started to increase. The radio started out with maximum five programs but as the demand for radios increased so did the amount of programs, which
society will soon become heartless. The lack of sympathy, concern, and security are three main factors that have led to a divided and sometimes apathetic society. Most people around the world lack sympathy. Norman Cousins, the author of “Who Killed Benny Paret?” talks about how people become blind to their own actions. The author says, “The time the crowd comes alive is when a man is hit so hard over the heart of the head, when his mouthpiece flies out, when the
Fibber McGee and Molly Jim and Marian Jordan, better known as Fibber McGee and Molly were two very important people of their time as well as two very important people to broadcasting as a whole. The impact made on America by the couple was great. The Fibber McGee and Molly show, as well as other shows that the couple were featured on, amused numbers of people throughout the country and influenced many more. Marian Jordan, previously Marian Driscoll, was born in Peoria Illinois to a coal mining
Griffith punched Benny Paret 18 times within a mere 3 seconds. These crucial 3 seconds became life-changing for the enduring Benny Paret as he confronted death; unfortunately, Paret could not bear the deep wound inflicted to him by Griffith and has passed away. In the stands, the audience was frightened by what they saw, but one in particular, Norman Mailer, was also appalled and incredulous in what he had witnessed. Afterwards, Norman Mailer published a passage, The Death of Benny Paret, describing
Faith Healing and Placebo Faith healing is predicated on the belief that certain places or individuals have the power to cure and heal. Meaning, something or someone can cure a disease or heal an injury by means of his / its connection to a Higher Power. Faith healing may involve prayer, a visit to a house of prayer or shrine, or just a strong belief in a Supreme Being. Conventional scientific evidence does not support claims that faith healing can cure serious diseases such as cancer. Some scientists
The fight between Benny Paret and Emile Griffith on March 24, 1962 was a major event in the history of boxing. Paret was one of the few to be killed in the ring. In “The Death of Benny Paret” by Norman Mailer, Mailer portrays Paret as a hero that did not deserve what happened, and Griffith as a malicious villain through the use of reverent tone, animalistic diction, and violent imagery. This creates adoration and sympathy for Paret, and a hatred towards Griffith. Mailer forms the reader’s respect
The Internal Conflicts of Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne In Young Goodman Brown the theme is not only centered on religious hypocrisy (falsely claiming to have certain religious morals) but also on the internal conflicts of Young Good Man Brown. A basic rundown of the story is that one fateful evening Young Good Man Brown decides to attend a meeting of the black Sabbath. On the way there he come across various people who are also on there way there .These include the devil, Goody Cloys