BENNY GOODMAN

RADIO HISTORY

BENNY GOODMAN AND THE 'SWING' ERA.

Benny Goodman, a daring young man with a 'swing' band, off stage is noted as

being quiet, unassuming, shy and very conservative, but put him in a formal black diner

suit with black tie, and he becomes filled with wild rhythm surging through his veins. He

is off in a burst of “hot” jazz. Benny describes his jazz as “rhythmic integration” which he says is so to speak, 'go to town', like anything goes.

His music goes over big with the family at the radio and those on the dance floor. He

is big with the college crowd, even professors. Fans are know to travel great distances to here and watch him play. His records have a big sales the world over. Benny is “King of Swing”

All of Benny's behavior and tastes are quiet and modest. He shows no bad effects

of his mothers pampering in the presences of ten brothers and sisters , she calling him a child prodigy . Mother got him his first clarinet when he was six years old. Benny studied

at the Chicago Lewis Institute. At age 12 he was a regular member of five piece orchestra

on a Lake Michigan excursion steamer.

When he returned home from these lake trips his mother pampered him, the best ,

bed, clothes, and his favorite foods were set before him. She even learned to make

many of the dishes that pleased his tastes on the trips afield. One dish, 'apple delight' ,

made with peeled and cored fresh apples, slightly steamed, filled in centers with apricot

jam, then spread them with an egg and sugar meringue, sprinkle with almonds, bake in

a slow oven.

Another dish, Macaroon custard, baked sweets, cakes and pies, and chocolate

eclairs , then there is Peach Melba. All dishes of mother Goodman.

His mother also gave us a new way to prepare chicken. Cut up the meat. Fry it in

olive oil with garlic, as the chicken browns, add chopped onion and chili peppers, next cut up tomatoes and parsley, and last a cup of uncooked rice before covering it with hot chicken stock. A bit of saffron is added to season. Benny's seafood favorites are lobster,

clams, baked or steamed. For more elaborate and sensuous dished, was pressed duck

white fish, brook trout, pompano and swordfish.

Benjamin David Goodman was born 15 July 1909 in Chicago, to David Goodman ,

a Russian clothing tailor, and Dora Rezinski Goodman, born in Lithuania.

Benjamin David Goodman married Alice Hammond in Las Vegas, 27 March 1927, and he died in New York City May 1985. Records show he had one daughter.

Abstract: Baltimore Sun, Sunday. April 17, 1938, by Grace Turner.