I had the privilege of meeting Benny Goodman on St. Maarten Dutch West Indies. it went like this. I was practicing the clarinet in my school. Then an American tourist with big straw hat and large sun shades walked in and asked me all kind of questions about the clarinet. So I answered him: " Well sir, you know very much about the clarinet!. The tourist answered : " I am Benny Goodman!". Wow, awesome; he invited me to his villa which he owned in SXM and we played classical Mozart duets. Then he asked me if I you played other styles of music.. So I the played Benny's version of Memories of you. He then said: " I think I know the tune ! Humorous isn't it ? Art Marshall
How this man could swing! It's easy to forget until you put on one of his recordings. I cherish some of his things with Charlie Christian. Funny you mention Mozart, because Benny recorded Mozart's Concerto for Clarinet in A, (k622) and it's not very good. I was 8, finding myself with clarinet in hand, I could not stand Mozart's Concerto, but loved Von Weber's Clarinet Concerto #1 in Fminor. Anyway a very bizarre tale told by Benny - his father, an Orthodox Jew, never approved of Benny pursuing jazz. When Benny returned to Chicago to gather the effects of his father, who had perished, he found a 78rpm complete set of his work, which he gifted to his father. It had been unopened. !!!!
One of the greatest innovators in music history. But NOT a gentleman. He was not a good person to his band members. No one ever called him a gentleman.
@Simon McCreath it's a well known fact when Benny wasn't happy with a musician, he would shoot him a glare on the bandstand with lasers coming out of his eyes. this was known as "the ray".
I was wondering if his speaking style mimics that of his father's. It reminded me of how orthodox rabbis will, at certain points in discussing the Torah, speak in a sort of sing-song style. Your analysis of jazz intonation is probably closer to the truth. Either way, what a joy to hear him speak.
@@vickiferstel9298 I am extremely familiar with the speech patterns of Rabbis, not only Orthodox, but of all the denominations, particularly with regard to NYC, Germany, and Israel. For one, I have worked with many dialects, accents, and what have you, from many countries, as I work in time-based entertainment. While I am very antagonistic toward organized religion, my father was born in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 20th century. His father was an ultra-orthodox rabbi and scholar of the state. My father was ordained in Jerusalem, immigrated to U.S. and was a working rabbit his entire life. Many males in his family were and are rabbis. Boy did I meet a lot of rabbis as I was growing up. That being said, Benny Goodman's speech patterns fit EXACTLY into the speech patterns of Jazz musicians all over the world. Additionally, I find no similarity to the patterns of Rabbis as they mull over the Talmud, juggle enigmas found in moral and spiritual contemplation, or crawl into the Zohar, and find themselves transcending up into a labyrinth of numerology. p.s. Benny had a terrible relationship with his father, and though his father never approved of him pursuing the life of a jazz musician, Benny sent his father a multi-vinyl fancy box set of his work. When his father died, and they were dealing with his father’s possessions, he found that the box set had never been opened.
@Simon McCreath Hahahahah, get a grip of myself? Ya know, just for the hell of it, I'm gonna tell ya what that last sentence is about - I am getting kind of old. I have known an awful lot of jazz musicians. The old school bozzzz are almost all gone, and when I started mentioning the speech patterns and intonations, I get memories of snippets of our conversations, bit of riffs we would trade off in 8s, toasts to life, and lots of laughs. So, there ain't nutt'n wrong with shedding a few tears here and there. My grip has always been firm, thank you very much.
@@Arturo-sm1tb I’ve seen him very unfairly dismissive of bebop, but I’ve never seen him cross. Goodman was undoubtedly one of the greatest clarinetists of all time, but he wasn’t particularly innovative. Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Bill Evans, and John Coltrane were innovative. (This list doesn’t purport to be anywhere close to exhaustive.)
Guys what's the point of calling the interviewer an idiot? The interview happened thirty years ago! Heck we oughta be thankful there WAS an interviewer to make this happen!
Wonderful interview, absolutely wonderful! I wish there were interviews like this with other greats from that era. As mentioned by others, I had never heard Benny Goodman speak, but his candor and honesty and his, at times, needing to really think back for a proper answer were, frankly, endearing. Many thanks for this.
An awesome clarinetist. King Goodman to be sure!! A friend of mine, Rosy Mchargue, who was also a clarinetist and new Benny and his wife, told me that he had never seen such a complete mastery of the clarinet.
Background > This interview, shown in clips, was from a TV series called "Signature" which ran from 1981 - 1982. The Goodman interview was the third interview of 13 interviews by host interviewer Gregory Jackson whose voice and inflections sounded like that of a young Mike Wallace. The show was cancelled after the second season due to low ratings. Pearl Bailey (two episode interview), Benny Goodman, Mel Torme, Jack Lemmon and Jason Robards were the guests whose interviews stood out from the rest.
Thank you so much. I know so little of the last year or two of his life. I always wondered if he felt well, played a lot, a little. Thanks for your kind reply.@@sundownsid
@howardadamsky2417 I wondered the same, how he felt, played, etc. When I came across his last concert on RUclips, I listened to all the segments in order. The fidelity is not good, but it is definitely worth taking the time to listen and make your opinions on his abilities, etc. One thing for sure is he had amazing abilities for an 86 year old. He was well enough to make it and get through the night, but one wonders how he felt afterward. Was he tired, did he realize that he might not play again.
From your very beginning, approx.16 years old, all of your performances were terrific. Your style began with Chicago style, Bix with Don Murray, Jimmie Noone, Ben Pollack, Jack Teagarden, Billie Holiday, developing into influences of Fletcher Henderson. Always with the very best of musicians, and you were never less than superb. Many of your recordings are masterpieces, and are listened to over and over. I love your playing, especially your ravishingly beautiful clarinet sound.,and the exciting, passionate swing, unsurpassable.
Fabulous interview. Never seen it before! The absolute hero of my late teens whose music taught me to listen carefully to other musicians and enjoy them as just as much. He headed my eventual ever growing long list of heroes and utter favo(u)orites. In later years Stan Getz joined him on my Goodman pedestal but didn't knock him off it, with more than half of American Jazz musos hot on their heels. Half? More! Have been told that Goodman can be heard in my clarinet playing...Great compliment but Man, you sure gotta listen hard! Maybe I stole a phrase or two but Benny kept his skill under very close security.....or maybe I just simply wasn't good (man) enough. Certainly I absorbed his sense of swing. Lives with me today as does my vast enjoyment of jaaazzzzzz, both before and after Benny. Gotta give a big BIG mention to British clarinettist, my 1st hero..Benny is my absolute hero who followed SID PHILLIPS in my finding of and devotion to jazz.. Sheesh ...what on earth do the kids hear now? I use the word "hear" as opposed to the word "listen." Big difference. Ain't we all just lucky? We lived through the best of it. Before the Powell/Astair dancing clip of Begin The Beguine, Sinatra says "You can sit around and wait for a hundred years but you ain't gonna see the likes of this again." "WE LIVED THROUGH THE BEST!"
I saw him play in 1980 at El Camino College in Torrance. I’m glad I had the opportunity to hear him in person even that late in his career, when he had slowed the tempo a little on some of his famous songs. He also played the Mozart clarinet concerto.
Until watching this clip, I realized I had never heard Benny Goodman speak, only play. It was interesting listening to his anecdotes. As an aside, Benny was extremely tall, 6'5".
There is no way Benny was anywhere near that tall. Photos show that he was slightly shorter than Glenn Miller, and Glenn's height was noted (by biographer George T. Simon) be be just shy of 6'. There are also pictures of him standing beside President John Kennedy who stood 6' 0" which show that Benny is clearly the shorter of the two. I have actually seen one photo (probably from the late 1960s or early 1970s) in which he is shown to be slightly shorter than his daughter Rachel (the latter presumably in heels). In another he is seen to be at least a half a head shorter than baseball player (and Benny's fishing pal) Ted Williams who stood 6' 3". Without much doubt, I would say his height was in the 5' 8.5" - 5' 10.5" range and unquestionably that it was less than 6'.
Benny was Benny. He had a formula for success and it worked. He worked just as hard or harder than anybody else. Practiced constantly. I never found fault with him but that’s just me. He could be very funny. But the Ray…he was a perfectionist like Buddy Rich. It was as if to say “I dare you to work as hard as I am”. My opinion.
The only period l remeber!! It was after the war in the years 1947-48 when he tried to create something modern!! Then for the first time played with Stan Hasselgard and suddenly!! there were two clarinets on the same stage!❤ Benny and the Swede🇸🇪 After the gig Benny said!! Stan really plays modern technically with a different harmony!! and Stan said Benny wasn’t much for modern playing!! But Benny liked playing with Stan!! He played with Benny in Los Angeles and in Philadelphia a club with namn Clik Club!! But the collaboration with Benny Goodman ended on November 26 1948 when Stan died in a car accident at only 26 years old in lndlana Missouri US. Tommy Björling in Sweden 🌹🇸🇪
+Musix4me Yes, he was the producer and at the time this show ran they made a mystery out of the interviewer. It sounds like Charlie Rose and in the Abbie Hoffman episode it sounds a lot more like Charlie Rose.
what is really striking about this interview is that he speaks so intelligently about his music. No pop music star could do that today, there is just no substance to their music
This interviewer wasn't exactly hip to the music scene - this is an interview taken in 1981 and he keeps talking about Acid Rock which is not really a term one uses for what was popular in the early 80's. - But still despite the boring interviewer it was interesting to see Benny.
Wonderful interview, and I think the interviewers 'anti-rock' bias (acid rock lol - not exactly 1981 or Stones) only goes to highlight how a true musician like Benny Goodman sees past genre and appreciates music, period. I think it's pretty clear Goodman did not have anything bad to say about the Stones and in fact it seems appreciated what they were doing and even jammed with Mick Jagger. It's well known that the Stones loved and appreciated swing and jazz as well as blues. I mean, they had Ernie Watts in the band at the time of this Benny Goodman interview! I try hard to learn from masters like Goodman. Instead of just hating on EDM or other machine music (I admit it's not my thing), I try to see beyond the differences and appreciate the art form for what it is. IMO ALL great musicians, from Beethoven to Bartok to Benny Goodman to James Brown to Mick Jagger to Deadmouse5 have one thing in common - they can appreciate music as they hear it, not based on what the commercial current trend is/was. Swing on my friends!
No, sonny. Benny was merely tolerating some genres. As a jazz player, he did not even like Bebop, and he gave quite honest and correct criticisms about bebop and subsequent "jazz" subgenera. He knew much of "music" is empty of music, and full of "showbiz" (money), which is quite different ballgame.
The interviewer was Gregory Jackson. This was an early CBS program and they purposely kept the interviewer in the shadows for effect. Very interesting interview as Benny never gave many. He could see that he warmed up to it as it went on. Also interesting because in spite of the fact that he was a giant...many, many of the musicians who played with him really found him very difficult, cheap, full of himself and not friendly at all.
He was not intended to be easy, generous, modest and friendly. He was there to be the best at what he did and create a world class work product. He did exactly that. When you become e as accomplished as he was, let me know.
A 1981 show could not possibly have been an “early CBS program”. CBS began under another name in 1912, became CBS in 1927, and expanded from radio into television in the 1940’s. This show was, rather, a LATER CBS program. You may not have even been born in 1981, but if so, that has only to do with you and nothing to do with CBS. You’d might as well call Wynton Marsalis an early jazz musician (although late in his career he did venture into attempting to replicate real early jazz, but that’s beside the point.).
@@howardadamsky2417 Yes, Goodman was generally very demanding of his musicians, and that’s precisely how was able to put together such a top-notch outfit. You don’t play sloppily with Benny Goodman, and rightly so. He was apparently something of a penny-pincher too, but that’s likely because he grew up dirt poor and was never able to adjust to a different situation. It’s precisely why H.G. Wells was so prolific all his life. His parents had been poor servants, and Wells was too sickly to do anything but write. To survive by writing alone in the early days it was necessary to write very much very fast, and Wells never lost the habit.
The interviewer is an idiot and so insulting. I did love the look on Benny's face when the interviewer called him laid back. Benny is the personification of chill - he just exudes levity and yet peacefulness. I was not yet born when this interview happened but I hope he knew that the quality and energy of his music would mean that it'd have a loyal following as long as there are ears to hear it.
Yes, the Berkeley Bulldog. (So be true to your school, just [as] you would to your girl or guy. Be true to your school now, and let your colors fly. Be true to your school.)
I did not sit through the whole interview video, but does he talk about his integrated band? and his insight on that? I care more about the social aspect he contributed during his career . Goodman is great and I think he was a very influential person during the Swing era 1930's.
3:17 Benny's first band was for who? Russ Columbo! He liked working for him. It would be nice if biographers watched and listened to this interview. I have not read one biography where Columbo was correctly acknowledged. He did not like Rose's.
I think Benny mellowed with age, which is entirely appropriate and intended as a compliment. The interviewer, all in all, did a very good job despite his bizarre habit of repeating the phrase “acid rock.”
I agree that the emphasis on acid rock was bizarre, especially considering that in 1981 the term had scarcely been used in over a decade. I disagree strongly, however that the interviewer did a good job, a fortiori a “very good” job.
The greatest soloist I ever heard on any instrument. Charlie Rose missed a little there by jumping in too early as Mr G was going to lay out the context of the recording industry. Such is life.
BG was a legend and played his clarinet like a butterfly, but Chick Webb is the King of Swing and Ella Fitzgerald is the First Lady of Swing. BG said he begged, borrowed, and stole arrangements 6:18.
Yours is an opinion, of course, and that’s fine-there’s certainly enough music and great names to go around. But don’t you think it’s a matter of taste?
Nonsense. Goodman was “the king of swing” only because that’s what he was called. You might as well say that London is really Madrid. These are just names. In any case, the appellation “king of swing” would be ridiculous no matter to whom it were attached, as Goodman had been the first to point out, and as he continued to point out. For the record, though, “king of swing” doesn’t mean swinging-est; it means the most prominent musician of the swing era, as Goodman undoubtedly was. He also happened to be a brilliant musician, though, and very swinging-whether or not he was the swinging-est
"Billy Rose - you know the name?" No, Benny, it was before his time, therefore he doesn't know it. Like most of the viewers. Nonetheless, the interviewer is fine, and it goes well.
That’s pretty stupid. If you research and listen to a lot of music, you can learn about a lot of different people involving in music…from different eras. As someone else stated, it’s “doing your homework0.
This dopey interviewer brings up Acid Rock as a comparison to Swing? This interviewer sucks with the most stupid questions.You get the opportunity of a lifetime with a musical legend - and this is what you give us? Thank God Goodman was aware enough to add more useful information than was questioned of him. Please don't tell me this was on 60 minutes.
@@honkyjesuseternal He was one of the first to have people of other race in his orchestra and was praised by many of his afro-american friends, you should shut up and show a little respect instead, more than a little in fact
@@belgianvanbeethoven You should look at any Goodman footage. Show a little intellect. He blackballed and blackmailed black artists. Cheers, old white man?
@@honkyjesuseternal "Old white man"!? And you dare to call Goodman a racist, you are the only racist around here. Goodman nearly declined playing in Carnegie Hall if they wouldn't allow his black musicians in, that doesn't seem like something a racist would, does it?! He had respect for the black roots of jazz and defended it from the white press who denied jazz originiated amongst afro-amricans. Also, for all what I say there can be found evidence, I can't find any for your claims. And no I am not a "white old man", you arrogant racist piece of ****. Edit: piece of SHIT, you deserve to read it in full form
@@howardadamsky2417 "At one concert, Benny was standing up in front of the band picking his nose. Zeke yelled ‘Put that back Benny.’ The whole band broke up and could not play.”
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From a mad keen 73yo Aussie fan Fair go-------The Interviewer is good,in my opinion. Could you idiots do any better????????
@@postatility9703 No, Rose was a victim of his own narcissism and generally boorish behavior--on camera as well as off. It does sound quite like Charlie Rose, but other seemingly knowledgeable commentators insist that it is not.
its not charlie rose. Charlie Rose would never be so repetitive and stupid with questions. Benny was a good guy and answered the questions so kindly and honestly. Tolerant of the interviewer.
The Interviewer is so annoying. He interrupts Benny over and over again before Benny can make his point. (The five-favorite-songs question is obviously idiotic but the interviewer won’t ever let go of it-even after Goodman patiently and politely points out its folly and meaninglessness.) In any case, I saw Benny perform just once, with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra in the mid seventies, Mozart and swing. My father was at the famous Carnegie Hall concert in the thirties.
During my professional life, I was forced to come into contact with a lot of media people. Practically all of them are morons (journalists in particular). But this guy beats all of them.
+MrJimmienoone I agree totally. I'll never forget when veteran actor Robert Mitchum appeared on David Letterman's show. All that idiot could think of to ask Mitchum was about his health and how he slept. Good grief! He asked nothing of Mitchum's 50+year career or that Mitchum had worked with Marilyn Monroe in a plant during WWII.
You do know that Benny Goodman was famously the first bandleader to play in public with an integrated band right? He hired Teddy Wilson in 1935 to be in his trio with Gene Krupa. Then he in 1936, he hired another black musician, Lionel Hampton, to make it a Quartet. He also famously had Charlie Christian in his group from 1939 to 1941, as well as Big Sid Catlett, Charlie Shavers, and several others other the years. Back then, the convention was you had either a 'white band' or a 'black band'. Benny was the first to begin to break that convention. He didn't care what color you were as long as you could play at his level. Lionel Hampton said he saw first hand, when a racist Hotel owner said to Benny, "What are you doing with these n*****s in your band?", Benny turned around and told the guy, "If you say that to me again, I'm going to take this Clarinet and bust you across the head with it!"
Yeah - I think it's Charlie Rose. Dumb as a post then, and even dumber now. hawkrider88 below says it's Gregory Jackson - never heard him - but it is a dead ringer for Rose. Yuch.
No he wasn't. He got Goodman out of his comfort zone and asked him tough questions that he didn't expect. Different strokes, different folks Dude. Wake Up!
@@HelloooThere Goodman was clearly extremely familiar with nearly all of these questions--not necessarily the particularly idiotic "five songs" question, though.
The person doing the interview knows nothing about jazz!! He has NO feel for this type of music because either you have it or you don't. The interviewer has no clue.
You'd think that this asshole interviewer would have done his homework before the interview - listened to some of Benny's records - known about his integrated trio and quartet - in the thirties! Known about his presentation of Charlie Christian to the American radio audience... Known about his commissioning Bela Bartok at a time when Bartok was totally neglected... Known about his raising money for Fletcher Henderson when he was ailing - and so much more. How artists like Benny Goodman keep their composure and humor in the face of such ignorance and arrogance from an interviewer is truly astonishing.
@Simon McCreath listen to Benny's bop Embarrassing Armstrong was smart. He didn't attempt it, he just lambasted it by calling it "Chinese music" Goodman's solos were based around the melody True jazz artists improvise based on the chord changes and, later the key signature
@@arame29 Virtually all swing jazz musicians, including Goodman, improvised around the melody (and the changes). Benny Goodman was an expert jazz musician of the swing era. He was not of the bop era, and it's ridiculous to expect him to have been. Armstrong was from an era preceding the swing era, and thus much further removed from bop. Of course he never attempted it. That doesn't make his wiser than Goodman; it just makes him older.
Marijuana was certainly widely used by jazz musicians of Goodman's era. Goodman said he tried it and didn't like it. In any case, Goodman is very lucid and articulate in this interview.
He was a cantankerous person. His genre was dying on because as with ‘pop’ music, trends change. In an old Down Beat magazine he literally attacked the new music even his musicians were gravitating towards…bebop! His skill on the clarinet cannot be questioned. He had great success, but like and pop group of any era, it eventually waned. But he blamed the new music as a danger and had the opinion that musicians became hostile to him and his audience. Stating that they killed dancing. How preposterous! There have been dance music ever since swing died out!
He stated in this interview you got to keep listening to what younger people are doing and he didn’t seem at all bothered by later incarcerations. Swing was his era and he helped define it so of course he was partial to it. Goodman seemed like a very educated/open minded person. A lot of the myths surrounding these legends are just that.
I had the privilege of meeting Benny Goodman on St. Maarten Dutch West Indies. it went like this. I was practicing the clarinet in my school. Then an American tourist with big straw hat and large sun shades walked in and asked me all kind of questions about the clarinet. So I answered him: " Well sir, you know very much about the clarinet!. The tourist answered : " I am Benny Goodman!". Wow, awesome; he invited me to his villa which he owned in SXM and we played classical Mozart duets. Then he asked me if I you played other styles of music.. So I the played Benny's version of Memories of you. He then said: " I think I know the tune ! Humorous isn't it ? Art Marshall
@@NoOne-kr4jc To me he was! Art Marshall (that's my artists name!)
Well we played and Benny advised on how to do it better. Check out my sax and clarinet arrangements on RUclips (Art Marshall is my artists name)
Amazing story.
Why Would I do that?
How this man could swing! It's easy to forget until you put on one of his recordings. I cherish some of his things with Charlie Christian. Funny you mention Mozart, because Benny recorded Mozart's Concerto for Clarinet in A, (k622) and it's not very good. I was 8, finding myself with clarinet in hand, I could not stand Mozart's Concerto, but loved Von Weber's Clarinet Concerto #1 in Fminor. Anyway a very bizarre tale told by Benny - his father, an Orthodox Jew, never approved of Benny pursuing jazz. When Benny returned to Chicago to gather the effects of his father, who had perished, he found a 78rpm complete set of his work, which he gifted to his father. It had been unopened. !!!!
Good clarinettist, Good talker, incredible Business man...
It's so great to hear Goodman talk about his career! Thank you!
Love Benny. A true gentleman and the clarinet close to his heart. Saw him a few times in the seventies. Just magnificent. Miss him.
Except when he gave you the ray
One of the greatest innovators in music history. But NOT a gentleman. He was not a good person to his band members. No one ever called him a gentleman.
@@Arturo-sm1tb was he innovative?
Very competent but I hear Chick Webb cut him bad up in Harlem
@Simon McCreath Battle of the Bands
@Simon McCreath it's a well known fact when Benny wasn't happy with a musician, he would shoot him a glare on the bandstand with lasers coming out of his eyes. this was known as "the ray".
Benny is like the grandfather many people wished they'd had.
He was young before that, Bud. And swung harder than a nail.
I love the jazz intonation in his speech patterns. Jazz musicians speak in intonations, phrasing, and pauses. I might cry a little, just because.
I was wondering if his speaking style mimics that of his father's. It reminded me of how orthodox rabbis will, at certain points in discussing the Torah, speak in a sort of sing-song style. Your analysis of jazz intonation is probably closer to the truth. Either way, what a joy to hear him speak.
@@vickiferstel9298 I am extremely familiar with the speech patterns of Rabbis, not only Orthodox, but of all the denominations, particularly with regard to NYC, Germany, and Israel. For one, I have worked with many dialects, accents, and what have you, from many countries, as I work in time-based entertainment. While I am very antagonistic toward organized religion, my father was born in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 20th century. His father was an ultra-orthodox rabbi and scholar of the state. My father was ordained in Jerusalem, immigrated to U.S. and was a working rabbit his entire life. Many males in his family were and are rabbis. Boy did I meet a lot of rabbis as I was growing up.
That being said, Benny Goodman's speech patterns fit EXACTLY into the speech patterns of Jazz musicians all over the world. Additionally, I find no similarity to the patterns of Rabbis as they mull over the Talmud, juggle enigmas found in moral and spiritual contemplation, or crawl into the Zohar, and find themselves transcending up into a labyrinth of numerology.
p.s. Benny had a terrible relationship with his father, and though his father never approved of him pursuing the life of a jazz musician, Benny sent his father a multi-vinyl fancy box set of his work. When his father died, and they were dealing with his father’s possessions, he found that the box set had never been opened.
@Simon McCreath Hahahahah, get a grip of myself? Ya know, just for the hell of it, I'm gonna tell ya what that last sentence is about - I am getting kind of old. I have known an awful lot of jazz musicians. The old school bozzzz are almost all gone, and when I started mentioning the speech patterns and intonations, I get memories of snippets of our conversations, bit of riffs we would trade off in 8s, toasts to life, and lots of laughs. So, there ain't nutt'n wrong with shedding a few tears here and there. My grip has always been firm, thank you very much.
Swing Era was the most happiest loving wonderful dance music that ever entered this world!!
This is the first interview I've ever seen of him. I enjoyed hearing him talk and seeing that he had such a pleasant smile. Thanks for the upload.
He was in one of his better moods.... But he was indeed one of the greatest musical innovators of all time.
I’ve seen lots of television interviews with him. There’s nothing unique about this one-aside from the particular incompetence of this interviewer.
@@Arturo-sm1tb I’ve seen him very unfairly dismissive of bebop, but I’ve never seen him cross. Goodman was undoubtedly one of the greatest clarinetists of all time, but he wasn’t particularly innovative. Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Bill Evans, and John Coltrane were innovative. (This list doesn’t purport to be anywhere close to exhaustive.)
First time I've heard Benny Goodman's voice. Great interview. Thanks!
His voice doesn’t match his face.
Benny Goodman is my idol
Guys what's the point of calling the interviewer an idiot? The interview happened thirty years ago! Heck we oughta be thankful there WAS an interviewer to make this happen!
Exactly, this is maybe the second Benny interview I've ever seen , thanks for posting it , great watch.
I believe that you expect people to actually think. Not gonna happen.
Not a bad interviewer at all. Let's Benny talk.
@@MegaMikeArnold He absolutely does NOT let Benny talk, and there are plenty of other interviews with Benny Goodman in existence.
There's something about Benny's smile that I really like , and it warms my heart. He was amazing.
Wonderful interview, absolutely wonderful! I wish there were interviews like this with other greats from that era. As mentioned by others, I had never heard Benny Goodman speak, but his candor and honesty and his, at times, needing to really think back for a proper answer were, frankly, endearing. Many thanks for this.
An awesome clarinetist. King Goodman to be sure!! A friend of mine, Rosy Mchargue, who was also a clarinetist and new Benny and his wife, told me that he had never seen such a complete mastery of the clarinet.
There are those who will argue that Artie Shaw was the ultimate clarinet master, but I'd still rather listen to Goodman.
What a polite well spoken ,genius,not many humans like him left.
Iam blessed & honered to see this interview. What a very special man. R. I. P.
Benny Goodman.
Background > This interview, shown in clips, was from a TV series called "Signature" which ran from 1981 - 1982. The Goodman interview was the third interview of 13 interviews by host interviewer Gregory Jackson whose voice and inflections sounded like that of a young Mike Wallace. The show was cancelled after the second season due to low ratings. Pearl Bailey (two episode interview), Benny Goodman, Mel Torme, Jack Lemmon and Jason Robards were the guests whose interviews stood out from the rest.
This interviewer jumped from a lead in to a good question, to something inane, repeatedly.
This is wonderful. Wow, so glad we have this.
Jazz legend 🎵♥⭐ rest in peace
I discovered Benny Goodman in 1986..... right after he passed.... love this man and his music.
@Simon McCreath yes
Never saw this until now. This is great. Benny played his clarinet until March, 1986, three months before he died.
I did not know this. I read he passed from a sudden heart attack. Do you know why he stopped 3 months before his passing?
@@howardadamsky2417 he played his last gig a week before he passed in June of '86.
The show is available on RUclips in several installments.
(Audio only)
Thank you so much. I know so little of the last year or two of his life. I always wondered if he felt well, played a lot, a little. Thanks for your kind reply.@@sundownsid
@howardadamsky2417 I wondered the same, how he felt, played, etc. When I came across his last concert on RUclips, I listened to all the segments in order. The fidelity is not good, but it is definitely worth taking the time to listen and make your opinions on his abilities, etc. One thing for sure is he had amazing abilities for an 86 year old. He was well enough to make it and get through the night, but one wonders how he felt afterward. Was he tired, did he realize that he might not play again.
From your very beginning, approx.16 years old, all of your performances were terrific. Your style began with Chicago style, Bix with Don Murray, Jimmie Noone, Ben Pollack, Jack Teagarden, Billie Holiday, developing into influences of Fletcher Henderson. Always with the very best of musicians, and you were never less than superb. Many of your recordings are masterpieces, and are listened to over and over. I love your playing, especially your ravishingly beautiful clarinet sound.,and the exciting, passionate swing, unsurpassable.
Goodman’s style couldn’t possibly have begun with Billie Holiday. Goodman was at the peak of his fame before Holiday had made her first recording.
Great to hear 'Benny' Again.
Thank you a lot for sharing this!
Fabulous interview. Never seen it before! The absolute hero of my late teens whose music taught me to listen carefully to other musicians and enjoy them as just as much. He headed my eventual ever growing long list of heroes and utter favo(u)orites. In later years Stan Getz joined him on my Goodman pedestal but didn't knock him off it, with more than half of American Jazz musos hot on their heels. Half? More!
Have been told that Goodman can be heard in my clarinet playing...Great compliment but Man, you sure gotta listen hard! Maybe I stole a phrase or two but Benny kept his skill under very close security.....or maybe I just simply wasn't good (man) enough.
Certainly I absorbed his sense of swing. Lives with me today as does my vast enjoyment of jaaazzzzzz, both before and after Benny.
Gotta give a big BIG mention to British clarinettist, my 1st hero..Benny is my absolute hero
who followed SID PHILLIPS in my finding of and devotion to jazz..
Sheesh ...what on earth do the kids hear now? I use the word "hear" as opposed to the word "listen." Big difference. Ain't we all just lucky? We lived through the best of it.
Before the Powell/Astair dancing clip of Begin The Beguine, Sinatra says "You can sit around and wait for a hundred years but you ain't gonna see the likes of this again."
"WE LIVED THROUGH THE BEST!"
I saw him play in 1980 at El Camino College in Torrance. I’m glad I had the opportunity to hear him in person even that late in his career, when he had slowed the tempo a little on some of his famous songs. He also played the Mozart clarinet concerto.
Great interview...history being recounted.....thanx
thank you for this share!
There is nothing to beat hearing the person who you like so well recounting in person. Many thanks for posting this.
6 hrs. a night 6 days or 7 days a week. You have to appreciate the work ethic and the love of jazz music.
this is a man whose education did not go much beyond age 17, but as literate as any one you can imagine
You mean his FORMAL education. There’s a difference.
Until watching this clip, I realized I had never heard Benny Goodman speak, only play. It was interesting listening to his anecdotes. As an aside, Benny was extremely tall, 6'5".
Wow I didn't realize he was that tall
yep true DAT
There is no way Benny was anywhere near that tall. Photos show that he was slightly shorter than Glenn Miller, and Glenn's height was noted (by biographer George T. Simon) be be just shy of 6'. There are also pictures of him standing beside President John Kennedy who stood 6' 0" which show that Benny is clearly the shorter of the two. I have actually seen one photo (probably from the late 1960s or early 1970s) in which he is shown to be slightly shorter than his daughter Rachel (the latter presumably in heels). In another he is seen to be at least a half a head shorter than baseball player (and Benny's fishing pal) Ted Williams who stood 6' 3". Without much doubt, I would say his height was in the 5' 8.5" - 5' 10.5" range and unquestionably that it was less than 6'.
His official website says he was exactly 6 feet tall...but who knows?
Really, who cares? The man was clearly a giant in the world of music and popular culture regardless of his physical stature.
Thankyou
Thank you.
One of the greats!
He gives a shout out to records! Love that. 360 days a year. Sheesh.
This is very interesting thank you.
Great post...a legend..thanx....
Benny was Benny. He had a formula for success and it worked. He worked just as hard or harder than anybody else. Practiced constantly. I never found fault with him but that’s just me. He could be very funny. But the Ray…he was a perfectionist like Buddy Rich. It was as if to say “I dare you to work as hard as I am”. My opinion.
Fascinating! Would love to have the rights to air this for my radio show...Big Band Saturday Night on KWGS in Tulsa
The only period l remeber!! It was after the war in the years 1947-48 when he tried to create something modern!! Then for the first time played with Stan Hasselgard and suddenly!! there were two clarinets on the same stage!❤ Benny and the Swede🇸🇪 After the gig Benny said!! Stan really plays modern technically with a different harmony!! and Stan said Benny wasn’t much for modern playing!! But Benny liked playing with Stan!! He played with Benny in Los Angeles and in Philadelphia a club with namn Clik Club!! But the collaboration with Benny Goodman ended on November 26 1948 when Stan died in a car accident at only 26 years old in lndlana Missouri US. Tommy Björling in Sweden 🌹🇸🇪
the interviewer does kind of make Benny Goodman seem like a "has been" when he's still one of the most famous jazz musicians of all time.
Is that Chris Wallace?
Grande líder.magnífico clarinetista.
Gregory Jackson was the producer and interviewer for the Signature TV series. I cannot find any pictures of him online.
+Musix4me Yes, he was the producer and at the time this show ran they made a mystery out of the interviewer. It sounds like Charlie Rose and in the Abbie Hoffman episode it sounds a lot more like Charlie Rose.
what is really striking about this interview is that he speaks so intelligently about his music. No pop music star could do that today, there is just no substance to their music
Plenty of pop stars could speak intelligently about their music and much else. Take for example Randy Newman and Ian Anderson.
Love the accent. He has that Cary Grant mid Atlantic tone
This interviewer wasn't exactly hip to the music scene - this is an interview taken in 1981 and he keeps talking about Acid Rock which is not really a term one uses for what was popular in the early 80's. - But still despite the boring interviewer it was interesting to see Benny.
Yes, I agree with all that you say. Thank you.
Wonderful interview, and I think the interviewers 'anti-rock' bias (acid rock lol - not exactly 1981 or Stones) only goes to highlight how a true musician like Benny Goodman sees past genre and appreciates music, period. I think it's pretty clear Goodman did not have anything bad to say about the Stones and in fact it seems appreciated what they were doing and even jammed with Mick Jagger. It's well known that the Stones loved and appreciated swing and jazz as well as blues. I mean, they had Ernie Watts in the band at the time of this Benny Goodman interview!
I try hard to learn from masters like Goodman. Instead of just hating on EDM or other machine music (I admit it's not my thing), I try to see beyond the differences and appreciate the art form for what it is. IMO ALL great musicians, from Beethoven to Bartok to Benny Goodman to James Brown to Mick Jagger to Deadmouse5 have one thing in common - they can appreciate music as they hear it, not based on what the commercial current trend is/was.
Swing on my friends!
No, sonny. Benny was merely tolerating some genres. As a jazz player, he did not even like Bebop, and he gave quite honest and correct criticisms about bebop and subsequent "jazz" subgenera. He knew much of "music" is empty of music, and full of "showbiz" (money), which is quite different ballgame.
The interviewer was Gregory Jackson. This was an early CBS program and they purposely kept the interviewer in the shadows for effect. Very interesting interview as Benny never gave many. He could see that he warmed up to it as it went on. Also interesting because in spite of the fact that he was a giant...many, many of the musicians who played with him really found him very difficult, cheap, full of himself and not friendly at all.
He was not intended to be easy, generous, modest and friendly. He was there to be the best at what he did and create a world class work product. He did exactly that. When you become e as accomplished as he was, let me know.
A 1981 show could not possibly have been an “early CBS program”. CBS began under another name in 1912, became CBS in 1927, and expanded from radio into television in the 1940’s. This show was, rather, a LATER CBS program. You may not have even been born in 1981, but if so, that has only to do with you and nothing to do with CBS. You’d might as well call Wynton Marsalis an early jazz musician (although late in his career he did venture into attempting to replicate real early jazz, but that’s beside the point.).
@@howardadamsky2417 Yes, Goodman was generally very demanding of his musicians, and that’s precisely how was able to put together such a top-notch outfit. You don’t play sloppily with Benny Goodman, and rightly so. He was apparently something of a penny-pincher too, but that’s likely because he grew up dirt poor and was never able to adjust to a different situation. It’s precisely why H.G. Wells was so prolific all his life. His parents had been poor servants, and Wells was too sickly to do anything but write. To survive by writing alone in the early days it was necessary to write very much very fast, and Wells never lost the habit.
So he played charmingly to the camera?
The interviewer is an idiot and so insulting. I did love the look on Benny's face when the interviewer called him laid back. Benny is the personification of chill - he just exudes levity and yet peacefulness. I was not yet born when this interview happened but I hope he knew that the quality and energy of his music would mean that it'd have a loyal following as long as there are ears to hear it.
EPIC!
It's really to bad that the interviewers are always so ignorant in these things
He was the 9th of 12 children b same year as his drummer Gene Krupa 1909
It's kind of too bad that the interviewer didn't mention or ask Benny about his trip to Moscow. I understand that the Russians really liked his band.
Was this an interview for a High School newspaper?
Yes, the Berkeley Bulldog. (So be true to your school, just [as] you would to your girl or guy. Be true to your school now, and let your colors fly. Be true to your school.)
I did not sit through the whole interview video, but does he talk about his integrated band? and his insight on that? I care more about the social aspect he contributed during his career . Goodman is great and I think he was a very influential person during the Swing era 1930's.
The answer is no, never.
Benny actually played cornet on a few recordings in the 1920's.
Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 - June 13, 1986) age 72 for this interview?
Is that Micheal Fremer doing the interview ?
The interviewer is gr8...professional job...
JAZZ LEGEND..
3:17 Benny's first band was for who? Russ Columbo! He liked working for him. It would be nice if biographers watched and listened to this interview. I have not read one biography where Columbo was correctly acknowledged. He did not like Rose's.
I think Benny mellowed with age, which is entirely appropriate and intended as a compliment.
The interviewer, all in all, did a very good job despite his bizarre habit of repeating the phrase “acid rock.”
I agree that the emphasis on acid rock was bizarre, especially considering that in 1981 the term had scarcely been used in over a decade. I disagree strongly, however that the interviewer did a good job, a fortiori a “very good” job.
The greatest soloist I ever heard on any instrument. Charlie Rose missed a little there by jumping in too early as Mr G was going to lay out the context of the recording industry. Such is life.
No, he missed A LOT-over and over again. He didn’t seem to really give a flying fig about anything Benny was saying.
BG was a legend and played his clarinet like a butterfly, but Chick Webb is the King of Swing and Ella Fitzgerald is the First Lady of Swing. BG said he begged, borrowed, and stole arrangements 6:18.
Yours is an opinion, of course, and that’s fine-there’s certainly enough music and great names to go around. But don’t you think it’s a matter of taste?
Nonsense. Goodman was “the king of swing” only because that’s what he was called. You might as well say that London is really Madrid. These are just names. In any case, the appellation “king of swing” would be ridiculous no matter to whom it were attached, as Goodman had been the first to point out, and as he continued to point out. For the record, though, “king of swing” doesn’t mean swinging-est; it means the most prominent musician of the swing era, as Goodman undoubtedly was. He also happened to be a brilliant musician, though, and very swinging-whether or not he was the swinging-est
He is fearless. Maybe that helped Benny.
"Billy Rose - you know the name?" No, Benny, it was before his time, therefore he doesn't know it. Like most of the viewers. Nonetheless, the interviewer is fine, and it goes well.
Just because something is “before your time” is no excuse for not knowing.
It’s called doing your homework.
That’s pretty stupid. If you research and listen to a lot of music, you can learn about a lot of different people involving in music…from different eras. As someone else stated, it’s “doing your homework0.
Why???
This dopey interviewer brings up Acid Rock as a comparison to Swing? This interviewer sucks with the most stupid questions.You get the opportunity of a lifetime with a musical legend - and this is what you give us? Thank God Goodman was aware enough to add more useful information than was questioned of him. Please don't tell me this was on 60 minutes.
Benny was a notorious racist.
@@honkyjesuseternal He was one of the first to have people of other race in his orchestra and was praised by many of his afro-american friends, you should shut up and show a little respect instead, more than a little in fact
@@belgianvanbeethoven You should look at any Goodman footage. Show a little intellect. He blackballed and blackmailed black artists. Cheers, old white man?
@@honkyjesuseternal "Old white man"!? And you dare to call Goodman a racist, you are the only racist around here. Goodman nearly declined playing in Carnegie Hall if they wouldn't allow his black musicians in, that doesn't seem like something a racist would, does it?! He had respect for the black roots of jazz and defended it from the white press who denied jazz originiated amongst afro-amricans. Also, for all what I say there can be found evidence, I can't find any for your claims. And no I am not a "white old man", you arrogant racist piece of ****.
Edit: piece of SHIT, you deserve to read it in full form
Is he alive
No, Benny Goodman died in 1986 at age 77, about 5 years after this interview was recorded.
Kind of king kind of proffers so cute makes your eyes light up makes my heart go goody goody❤️🎵
1:53 here we are able to finally see the nose picking Benny Goodman was so infamous for. Everybody who ever worked with him mentioned this lol.
Classy comment. Nice
@@howardadamsky2417 "At one concert, Benny was standing up in front of the band picking his nose. Zeke yelled ‘Put that back Benny.’ The whole band broke up and could not play.”
@Simon McCreath You make a good point!
He also seems a bit flaky
Lots of commenters trashing the interviewer. Given that the target audience was the general public, I didn't think he did that bad of a job at all.
You don't seem to think very highly of the "general public".
1:55 oops lol
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 73yo Aussie fan
Fair go-------The Interviewer is good,in my opinion.
Could you idiots do any better????????
This interviewer sounds like Dick Cavaett who had a tv show and did a lot of interviews.
It was Charlie Rose,another victim of the "#metoo movement ""
@@postatility9703 No, Rose was a victim of his own narcissism and generally boorish behavior--on camera as well as off. It does sound quite like Charlie Rose, but other seemingly knowledgeable commentators insist that it is not.
The interviewer sounds a lot like Charlie Rose.
its not charlie rose. Charlie Rose would never be so repetitive and stupid with questions. Benny was a good guy and answered the questions so kindly and honestly. Tolerant of the interviewer.
NoRosesForMe
You're right, it's not Charlie Rose, the interviewer is Gregory Jackson - but he does SOUND a lot like CR.
+EyeShotFirst Yes, it sounds very much like a younger Charlie Rose.
+gtimny The interviewer is not George Jackson, he was the producer. At the time this series aired they kept the interviewer's name a mystery.
It’s Joy Behar
Sounds like a young Charlie Rose.
Кларнетисты из России like!
1.
isn't there a time for similar interview with Mick Jagger? :D
No.
The Interviewer is so annoying. He interrupts Benny over and over again before Benny can make his point. (The five-favorite-songs question is obviously idiotic but the interviewer won’t ever let go of it-even after Goodman patiently and politely points out its folly and meaninglessness.) In any case, I saw Benny perform just once, with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra in the mid seventies, Mozart and swing. My father was at the famous Carnegie Hall concert in the thirties.
Benny should have scared the shit out of this duffer with his legendary "Ray".
During my professional life, I was forced to come into contact with a lot of media people. Practically all of them are morons (journalists in particular). But this guy beats all of them.
+MrJimmienoone I agree totally. I'll never forget when veteran actor Robert Mitchum appeared on David Letterman's show. All that idiot could think of to ask Mitchum was about his health and how he slept. Good grief! He asked nothing of Mitchum's 50+year career or that Mitchum had worked with Marilyn Monroe in a plant during WWII.
Benny was a racist, though.
@@honkyjesuseternal Where’d you read that?
@@chickenmangaming1 All the video footage with his Whites Only backing bands. It is hilariously KKK. Cheers.
You do know that Benny Goodman was famously the first bandleader to play in public with an integrated band right? He hired Teddy Wilson in 1935 to be in his trio with Gene Krupa. Then he in 1936, he hired another black musician, Lionel Hampton, to make it a Quartet. He also famously had Charlie Christian in his group from 1939 to 1941, as well as Big Sid Catlett, Charlie Shavers, and several others other the years. Back then, the convention was you had either a 'white band' or a 'black band'. Benny was the first to begin to break that convention. He didn't care what color you were as long as you could play at his level. Lionel Hampton said he saw first hand, when a racist Hotel owner said to Benny, "What are you doing with these n*****s in your band?", Benny turned around and told the guy, "If you say that to me again, I'm going to take this Clarinet and bust you across the head with it!"
3.50....COLOMBO....
QUIERO LA TRADUCCIÓN AL ESPAÑOL.-.-.-.-.-
QUIERO TRADUCCION AL ESPAÑOL
The interviewer sounds more like Dick Cavett than Charlie Rose.
Charlie Rose for sure. Cavett has a lighter more nasally voice and is way more casual. Rose's early interviews weren't all that.
Yeah - I think it's Charlie Rose. Dumb as a post then, and even dumber now.
hawkrider88 below says it's Gregory Jackson - never heard him - but it is a dead ringer for Rose. Yuch.
He doesn't sound anything like Cavett, and I'm not talking just about the voice.
"Union scale" was $100 a night in the 1930s? That's like getting well over a grand now.
We still get $100 a night..ha ha
I think he meant per week, which was still high then. Maybe Local 802 scale was that much.
If you can do it 24/7, 365 days, for decades, then it isn’t work. I expected a curmudgeon, but he seemed a good natured gentleman.
Whoever the interviewer, he is horrible as an interviewer.
Bob Bodem Ever hear of Dick Cavett, one of the best interviewers ever!
He certainly was! An interviewer with a brain...
No he wasn't. He got Goodman out of his comfort zone and asked him tough questions that he didn't expect. Different strokes, different folks Dude. Wake Up!
@@rustyc983 Cavett was indeed a superior interviewer, but this clearly isn't Cavett--or any good interviewer.
@@HelloooThere Goodman was clearly extremely familiar with nearly all of these questions--not necessarily the particularly idiotic "five songs" question, though.
His lip looks worn from so much clarinet playing
The person doing the interview knows nothing about jazz!! He has NO feel for this type of music because either you have it or you don't. The interviewer has no clue.
You'd think that this asshole interviewer would have done his homework before the interview - listened to some of Benny's records - known about his integrated trio and quartet - in the thirties! Known about his presentation of Charlie Christian to the American radio audience... Known about his commissioning Bela Bartok at a time when Bartok was totally neglected... Known about his raising money for Fletcher Henderson when he was ailing - and so much more.
How artists like Benny Goodman keep their composure and humor in the face of such ignorance and arrogance from an interviewer is truly astonishing.
Very proficient player but was not a jazz clarinetist
That distinction belonged to Buddy DeFranco
@Simon McCreath listen to Benny's bop
Embarrassing
Armstrong was smart. He didn't attempt it, he just lambasted it by calling it "Chinese music"
Goodman's solos were based around the melody
True jazz artists improvise based on the chord changes and, later the key signature
@@arame29 Virtually all swing jazz musicians, including Goodman, improvised around the melody (and the changes). Benny Goodman was an expert jazz musician of the swing era. He was not of the bop era, and it's ridiculous to expect him to have been. Armstrong was from an era preceding the swing era, and thus much further removed from bop. Of course he never attempted it. That doesn't make his wiser than Goodman; it just makes him older.
He played Dixieland & Swing…this is most certainly jazz. The old timers were improvisers too.
The interviewer is awful 🤦🏻♂️
This interviewer doesn't know his shit !
in an interview you have to know your background, so that you can ask "relevent" questions and simply not ask questions !
good grief! we always have somebody who must complain..
@@granskare The complaint is well warranted. Other Goodman interviews are easily available.
my names goo goo
Is Benny a stoner?
Marijuana was certainly widely used by jazz musicians of Goodman's era. Goodman said he tried it and didn't like it. In any case, Goodman is very lucid and articulate in this interview.
Bad interviewer. can't stand him.
He was a cantankerous person. His genre was dying on because as with ‘pop’ music, trends change. In an old Down Beat magazine he literally attacked the new music even his musicians were gravitating towards…bebop!
His skill on the clarinet cannot be questioned. He had great success, but like and pop group of any era, it eventually waned. But he blamed the new music as a danger and had the opinion that musicians became hostile to him and his audience. Stating that they killed dancing. How preposterous! There have been dance music ever since swing died out!
It's Normal. All generations think that.
@@laramaui4114 You are 100% right. My in laws are proof of that.
He stated in this interview you got to keep listening to what younger people are doing and he didn’t seem at all bothered by later incarcerations. Swing was his era and he helped define it so of course he was partial to it. Goodman seemed like a very educated/open minded person. A lot of the myths surrounding these legends are just that.
What a horrible interviewer!