Benny Goodman

band leader, noticed this and began incorporating elements of jazz into his symphonic arrangements and as a result was named the “jazz king” to many, even though he was merely exploiting the works of many black musicians (Surging). Others, like Benny Goodman, started directing multiracial bands and hiring black musicians regularly (Verity). Due to the racial prejudice in most radio stations of the time however, white jazz groups, like Whiteman’s received more airtime than black jazz musicians,…

given him a comment that "music is a pleasure but this guy is not". One day a black musician called Carlie Christian recommended by his mentor, he joined Benny's Swing Band from August 1939 to June 1941. They became good friends outside of work. And Benny is also admiring him. That is the remarkable event of racial integration. Black artists are finally starting accepted by the white…

Billie Holiday is considered one of the most influential jazz singers of all time. Holiday was born on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia and died on July 17, 1959. Billie Holiday struggled in her early life which was why she moved to New York and began her career, but she encountered problems even though she was successful. Billie Holiday did not live in a peaceful home while growing up. Born in Philadelphia, her birth name was Eleanor Fagan. She spent much of her childhood in Baltimore with her…

An Age Filled With Mirages The 1920's, a time where "hip flasks of hooch would be drank, jazz music would be propelled at speakeasies, women bobbed their hair and would wear short skirts …’’ In other words, life in this decade was filled with excitement, wild parties and. Life in the 20's was affected by certain factors: prohibition, the economy boomed and the social change. On January 16, 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution (ratified in 1919) went into effect. The Eighteen…

James composed by Harry Warren These Boots are Made for Walking – Nancy Sinatra composed by Lee Hazlewood I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra (V) composed by Cole Porter My Way – Frank Sinatra (V) composed by Paul Anka Sing, Sing, Sing - Benny Goodman composed by Louis Prima What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong composed by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss In The Mood – Glenn Miller composed by Joe Garland and Andy Razaf Fools Rush In…

Thousands Cheer, her first show without an all black cast. Her rendition of “Heat Wave” in that show linked the song to her. While being considered one of the greatest blues singers, Waters also performed and recorded with such jazz greats as Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington . Several songwriters wrote songs especially for her, and she was identified with “Stormy Weather.” and “Dinah” Ethel’s first straight drama role was in the 1939 production of DuBose and Dorothy Heyward’s Mamba’s Daughters.…

danced while music was playing. This was certainly something different and not the most orthodox thing that jazz was sought out to be. Now with all the swing talk, it’s appropriate to mention the person who was known as the King of Swing, Benny Goodman. What made Goodman such a key figure during this era was that he bridged the gap between jazz and white America. This was big because jazz would now receive exposure on a larger…

Two realities of human society always threaten to depress and confound us: many of us face daily violence and prejudice from those around us, and the collective conscious is slow to adopt positive change, i.e., we can hope that tomorrow we will stop fighting amongst ourselves and recognize the common humanity shared by all of us, but such an accomplishment is a far away goal with no end in sight. What then can we do? We must be the best citizens possible. Only then can real, albeit slow,…

The 1920’s and 30’s were significant decades for America. The Roaring 20’s are often characterized with great effervescence; a time of speakeasies, flashy parties, excessive wealth, good fortune, and jazz music. Jazz music, at the time, was the rhythm of the people. It moved with their joy and beat with their jubilance. But in 1929, everything changed. Tragedy struck, and the Great Depression befell the country like a suffocatingly thick blanket, smothering the flame of the American people.…

recordings of trumpeter Harry James. Sal Salvador first started playing jazz on an acoustic guitar in the style of Dick McDonough, Carl Kress, and George Van Eps. Subsequent to listening to a few recordings of Charlie Christian playing with Benny Goodman he chose to make a move over to the electrical guitar. From 1945-1946 he brought correspondence…