Early Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman became the “King of Swing” when his big band caused a sensation at Los Angeles’ Palomar Ballroom on Aug. 21, 1935, launching the Swing era. The clarinetist was 26 at the time and already had nine years of significant music behind him. [Suggested Reading: Benny Goodman’s Kingdom of Swing, Pt 1: The Early Years] Goodman began playing the clarinet when he was ten, he developed quickly, and within a year was playing professionally. After freelancing in Chicago, in 1925 the 16-year old became not only a member of the Ben Pollack Orchestra but one of its top soloists. He made his recording debut with Pollack in late 1926 and spent four years in the band which also included trombonists Glenn Miller and Jack Teagarden, and cornetist Jimmy McPartland. After leaving Pollack in 1929, Goodman became a very busy New York studio musician, riding out the worst years of the Depression. While much of the music that he played during the period was in anonymous studio orchestras and on the radio (primarily dance music with just a rare jazz session), he was able to make a lucrative living. Eventually in 1934, Goodman’s desire to play big band jazz led him to taking the first steps towards leading his own orchestra. Benny Goodman had led four recording sessions of his own in Chicago during 1928-29, including a couple of trio numbers and a set that also featured trumpeter Wingy M