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.
Don
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You let other women make a fool of you
Why don't you do right
Like some other men do?
Get out of here and get me some money too?
You're sitting down wondering what it's all about
Why don't you do right
Like some other men do?
Get out of here and get me some money too?
If you had prepared twenty years ago
You wouldn't be a-wanderin' now from door to door
Why don't you do right
Like some other men do?
Get out of here and get me some money too?
I fell for you jiving and I took you in
Now all you've got to offer me is a drink of gin
Why don't you do right
Like some other men do?
Get out of here and get me some money too?
Why don't you do right
Like some other men do?
Like some other men do?
The lyrics of the song "Why Don't You Do Right" by Benny Goodman seem to be directed towards a man who has been wasting his money on other women and living a lifestyle beyond his means. The singer is fed up with this behavior and demands that he start doing right and making some money. She emphasizes the fact that if he had planned ahead and prepared properly, he wouldn't be in this position now. The singer's tone is assertive and uncompromising, as she realizes that the man has taken advantage of her and is not living up to his responsibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
You had a plenty money 1922
In the past, you had a significant amount of money in 1922.
You let other women make a fool of you
You allowed other women to take advantage of you and make you look foolish.
Why don't you do right
Why don't you start acting right and doing what you're supposed to do?
Like some other men do?
There are other men who behave correctly and handle their responsibilities.
Get out of here and get me some money too?
Leave and bring me some money back with you.
You're sitting down wondering what it's all about
You're wondering about the purpose of life while doing nothing productive.
You ain't got no money they will put you out
If you don't have any money, you'll be kicked out or put in trouble.
If you had prepared twenty years ago
If you had done something about your situation twenty years ago,
You wouldn't be a-wanderin' now from door to door
You wouldn't be moving from place to place, trying to find money or work.
I fell for your jiving and I took you in
I was deceived by your lies and gave you a chance to come into my life.
Now all you've got to offer me is a drink of gin
Now all you have to give me in return is a drink of gin.
Why don't you do right
Why don't you start acting right and doing what you're supposed to do?
Like some other men do?
There are other men who behave correctly and handle their responsibilities.
Get out of here and get me some money too?
Leave and bring me some money back with you.
Why don't you do right
Why don't you start acting right and doing what you're supposed to do?
Like some other men do?
There are other men who behave correctly and handle their responsibilities.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LILLIAN GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SwingCla
Benny Goodman 1985 at The New York Marriott Marquis <Play List> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrPaVntmR59tGQC-IYWFXfi1yoDxyTk9k
Ana Suarez
The best music of the USA.
Greg Normal
@Ana Suarez Hello!!! How are you doing today, please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you’re a fan ? Have a great day. Stay Safe!
Steven Heywood
Gladdens my heart to hear Benny playing music he made popular 50 years prior...Just shows that great music does not age. 👍 Benny passed away a year after this was recorded.
K Lee
This performance was less than a year before Benny Goodman died. It is very pleasant and touching to see these older couples listening and dancing to the music they grew up with.
They look like they were having such a good time. Wish I was there...
Poisson Volant
I saw this program when it was first broadcast, had to pinch myself when I realized "Holy s*, it's 1985 and I'm watching the Benny Goodman band live and in full gallop!" If only we'd been able to hear Shaw, Miller, and the Dorseys under the same circumstances ...
Reportedly this program was to test out the band for a new series of concerts. But as you noted, we lost him shortly afterwards.
The Brazilian Atlantis
I saw Benny in about 1985. He had them turn the sound system off, saying "If you can't hear, come down front. But you'll be able to hear. We play loud enough for dancing, that's the whole point. Feel free to dance if you want, that's what this music is for." Few danced but we could hear and he played beautifully.
Nancy Miller
This gives me some really high quality tears and sets my feet a tapping. ❤🎶
Greg Normal
Hello!!! How are you doing today, please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you’re a fan ? Have a great day. Stay Safe!
Brian Arredondo
The joy he has performing this is something special, and that smile at the end says it all. Enough to bring a tear of joy to your eye as I’m sure this takes him back to the glory days. Thank you for sharing!