The best single CD collection from the true "King of Swing"
The Story !!!After his father died, fourteen-year-old Benny helped support his family by playing at a Chicago neighborhood dance hall and working locally for two years. In 1925 bandleader and drummer Ben Pollack hired him. When the band was between jobs, Goodman jammed with members of the Austin High Gang (Dave Tough, Bud Freeman and others) who introduced him to New Orleans Rhythm Kings and the Dixieland clarinet style of Leon Rappolo. Goodman accompanied Pollack to New York in 1928 and then joined Red Nichols in 1929.
In 1933 Goodman accepted an offer by the legendary producer John Hammond to record for Columbia's English market, which was more receptive to jazz than were Americans. In that year also, Benny appeared at Bessie Smith's last and Billie Holiday's first recording sessions. Hammond urged Goodman to hire Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton for his small combo, which also included drummer Gene Krupa; the group became the first interracial jazz ensemble to perform in public.
On Hammond's advice in 1934, Goodman purchased from the struggling bandleader Fletcher Henderson several of the hot big-band arrangements that helped to make his band's reputation. Henderson's material was tepidly received at first, because fans were accustomed to hearing a white band play "sweet" music. At a dance in Los Angeles's Palomar Ballroom on August 21, 1935, Goodman, fed up with the sweet charts, boldly called for Henderson's flag-wavers. The crowd was wildly enthusiastic. As much as any single event could have, this performance marked the advent of the Swing Era.
