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.
Cross My Heart
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,
above the blue and windy sea.
your golden sun will shine for me!
I left my heart in San Francisco.
High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,
above the blue and windy sea.
When I come home to you, San Francisco,
The lyrics of Benny Goodman and His Orchestra's song Yours Is My Heart Alone speaks of a deep devotion and love for someone. The song talks about how the person's heart belongs only to their beloved and without them, life would be incomplete. The lyrics convey a sense of admiration, appreciation and affection towards the person the song is dedicated to. The singer sings about how every thought they have belongs to their partner, and how their love is the very essence of their dreams.
The lyrics also reveal how the person's partner is the reason behind every joy and happiness they experience, which makes it apparent that the two of them are inseparable. The singer emphasizes the worth of their partner and acknowledges the fact that their love is the most precious thing in this world. The song is essentially about unconditional love and the celebration of it. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to give anything to be with their beloved, and that they feel complete only when they are together.
Line by Line Meaning
Yours is my heart alone
My heart belongs to you and you only
And without you, life holds no charm
Life is dull and uninteresting without your presence
Yours every thought I own
I think of you constantly and exclusively
Our love the theme of every dream
My dreams revolve around our love and shared experiences
All that makes life seem worthwhile
Everything that gives meaning to life
Dwells in your eyes and the spell of your smile
The happiness and fulfillment that comes from being in love with you is evident in your eyes and smile
There is no song half so sweet to me
No other song comes close to the sweetness I feel when I hear your voice
As your voice whispering I love you dear
The most beautiful sound I've ever heard is your voice saying 'I love you'
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Douglas Cross, George Cory
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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