Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Many musicians spoke of The Ray, Goodman's trademark glare that he bestowed on a musician who failed to perform to his demanding standards. Anita O'Day and Helen Forrest spoke bitterly of their experiences singing with Goodman. "The twenty or so months I spent with Benny felt like twenty years," said Forrest. "When I look back, they seem like a life sentence." He could also be incredibly self-absorbed; it is reported that when eating an egg onto which a ketchup bottle cap had fallen, Goodman simply ate around it. At the same time, there are reports that he privately funded several college educations and was sometimes very generous, though always secretly. When a friend asked him why one time, he reportedly said, "Well, if they knew about it, everyone would come to me with their hand out."
Some suggest that Elvis Presley had the same success with rock and roll that Goodman achieved with jazz and swing. Without Goodman there would not have been a swing era. It is true that many of Goodman's arrangements had been played for years before by Fletcher Henderson's orchestra. While Goodman publicly acknowledged his debt to Henderson, many young white swing fans had never heard Henderson's band. While most consider Goodman a jazz innovator, others maintain his main strength was his perfectionism and drive. Goodman was a non - pariel virtuoso clarinetist and -along with only Artie Shaw, amongst the most technically proficient jazz clarinetists of all time.
Goodman is also responsible for a significant step in racial integration in America. In the early 1930s, black and white jazz musicians could not play together in most clubs or concerts. In the Southern states, racial segregation was enforced by the Jim Crow laws. Benny Goodman broke with tradition by hiring Teddy Wilson to play with him ] in the Autumn of 1936. He then added Lionel Hampton on vibes in December, 1936, and in the early Summer of 1939 he augmented the famous "quartette" with pioneering jazz guitarist Charlie Christian to his band and small ensembles, who played with him until his untimely death from tuberculosis less than three years later. To give an understanding of American history at this time, Goodman's integration of popular music happened ten years before Jackie Robinson entered Major League Baseball. "[Goodman's] popularity was such that he could remain financially viable without touring the South, where he would have been subject to arrest for violating Jim Crow laws." By the mid- Summer of 1941, Benny had hired the incomparably rhythmic and show-man drummer, legendary "Big Sid" Catlett, the (later) famous John Simmons on bass, and still possessed the incomparable Charlie Christian on electric guitar -plus Cootie Williams was in the middle of his one-year contract... This amounted to virtually one-quarter of the orchestra of black heritage, but of course -following Jimmy Munday and Fletcher Henderson (who also joined the band as pianist for 6 months in July, 1939) it was really an orchestrated white extension of black big band jazz -only, curiously -better.
Caravan
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The myst'ry of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sand so I may keep
The mem'ry of our caravan
You are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
The song "Caravan" by Benny Goodman is a beautiful representation of a love story that takes place in a desert caravan under the night sky. The lyrics set the stage of the song with the description of the stars shining bright creating a mystic aura that adds to the beauty of this love-filled journey. The singer then invites his love interest to lay her head on his shoulder as they make their way through the sand dunes. This journey has meaning to the singer as he wishes to keep the memory of their caravan close to him.
The chorus further emphasizes the beauty of the moment with the excitement and allure of the singer's love interest. It speaks about how restful it is to be in her arms while he enjoys the magical moment with her. The lyrics also mention that he feels like his dream of love is coming true within their desert caravan.
Overall, "Caravan" showcases the beauty of love and the mystic allure of a journey through the desert under the stars.
Line by Line Meaning
Night and stars above that shine so bright
The darkness of the night sky is illuminated by the brilliance of the stars above
The myst'ry of their fading light
The intrigue of the gradual dimming of the starry sky
That shines upon our caravan
The light from above casts a glow upon the group's traveling home
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Rest your head on my shoulder as we move silently
Across the sand so I may keep
Traveling across the vast sand so that I may hold on to
The mem'ry of our caravan
The lasting image of our journey together
This is so exciting
Feeling thrilled and exhilarated
You are so inviting
Taken by your alluring presence
Resting in my arms
Comfortably held in each other's embrace
As I thrill to the magic charms
As I revel in the enchanting qualities
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
Of having you with me under the clear blue skies
My dream of love is coming true
My long-held aspiration for love is finally materializing
Within our desert caravan
Throughout our journey on this sand-filled terrain
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RACHEL MARY BERKELEY PORTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
josela
Music composed by Juan Tizol a mamber of the Ellington band for 15 years who played valve trombone. He also composed "Perdido" "Zanzibar."
James Hart
Gets Jiggy with it and Dances about. Cant stop the feet! Great music.
SheridanJazz
I totally agree. No arguments here.