Benny Goodman
Known for

Acting

Credits

41

Gender

Man

Birthday

30 May 1909

Day of death

13 Jun 1986 (77)

Place of birth

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Also known as
Benjamin David Goodman
The King of Swing
The Benny Goodman Sextet

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
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
Legends in Concert: Benny Goodman
2022Charlie Parker: Bird SongsSelf (archive footage)
2001JazzSelf (archive footage)
2000The Sid Caesar Collection: The Magic of Live TVSelf (archive footage)
1993Benny Goodman - Adventures In The Kingdom Of SwingSelf (archive footage)
1983Åke Hasselgård story
1978The Kennedy Center HonorsSelf
1978Mitzi... What's Hot, What's NotSelf
1978Bio’s BahnhofSelf
1976Copland Conducts CoplandSelf - Clarinet
1975Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?Self (archive footage)
1972Le Grand ÉchiquierSelf
1968The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest
1963The Danny Kaye ShowSelf
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
1959John Gunther's High RoadSelf
1959The Bell Telephone HourSelf
1959The Big PartySelf
1957DuPont Show of the MonthSelf
1956The Dinah Shore Chevy ShowSelf
1955Allen in MovielandSelf
1955Music LandOrchestra Leader (archive footage)
1954Two for the RecordSelf
1950What's My Line?Self - Mystery Guest
1950Star TimeSelf - Musician
1948A Song Is BornProfessor Magenbruch
1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf - Band Leader
1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf - Clarinetist
1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf
1946Make Mine MusicSelf (voice)
1944Sweet and Low-DownBenny Goodman
1944The Shining FutureSelf
1943The Gang's All HereBenny Goodman
1943Stage Door CanteenBenny Goodman
1943The Powers GirlSelf - Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
1942SyncopationBenny Goodman
1941Birth of the BluesSelf (archive footage)
1938Hollywood HotelBenny Goodman, Leader of His Orchestra
1936The Big Broadcast of 1937Benny Goodman
1929Me and the BoysSelf - Clarinet
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
1963SackgasseOriginal Music Composer