Benjamin David "Benny" Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986)
He was a jazz clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". In the mid-1930s, Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in the United States. His concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on January 16, 1938 is described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music." Goodman's bands launched the careers of many major jazz artists. During an era of racial segregation, he led one of the first well-known integrated jazz groups. Goodman performed nearly to the end of his life while exploring an interest in classical music. Goodman's popularity continued to accelerate with 15 top 10 hits in 1936, including "Goody-Goody" and "You Turned the Tables on Me." Returning to the radio, he became the host of Camel Caravan that year. The program ran until 1939. Making his film debut, Goodman also appeared as himself in The Big Broadcast of 1937 (1936). He went on to make several films, including Hollywood Hotel (1937), Syncopation (1942) and Sweet and Low-Down (1944). By 1940, Goodman's meteoric career showed signs of fading. He scored only three top ten hits that year, including the number one hit "Darn That Dream." Some of his other hits from this era were "There'll Be Some Changes Made," sung by Louise Tobin, and "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place" with vocals by Peggy Lee. In 1942, Goodman married John Hammond's sister, Alice. The couple eventually had two daughters together, Rachel and Benjie.
After World War II ended in 1945, the jazz scene began changing, moving more toward bebop style and away from swing. Goodman eventually broke up his big band and performed with small groups over the years. With musician-comedian Victor Borge, he hosted a radio show for a time. Goodman also starred in the 1948 musical comedy A Song Is Born with Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo, which featured other music greats Louis Armstrong and Tommy Dorsey among others. He also later recorded the soundtrack for the film about his life, The Benny Goodman Story (1955), which starred comedian Steve Allen as Goodman. Despite his failing health, Goodman continued to perform during the 1980s. He died of heart failure on June 13, 1986, in New York City. He is buried next to his wife in the Long Ridge Cemetery in Stamford, Connecticut.