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.
Stairway to the Stars
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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And climb that stairway to the stars
With love beside us to fill the night with a song
We'll hear the sound of violins
Out yonder where the blue begins
The moon will guide us as we go drifting along
Can't we sail away on a lazy daisy petal
Over the rim of the hill?
And settle high on the crest of a thrill!
Let's build a stairway to the stars
A lovely stairway to the stars
The lyrics to Benny Goodman featuring Charlie Christian's song "I Found A New Baby" suggest a romantic and dreamy journey towards the unknown. The song starts with the idea of building a stairway to the stars, which represents the impossible and unattainable, but with love beside us, anything is possible. The use of symbolism continues with the sound of violins, which gives a sense of romance and beauty, and the moon that guides us as we go drifting along, which represents hope and guidance.
As we move along with the lyrics, we see the idea of sailing away on a lazy daisy petal and settling high on the crest of a thrill. This portrays a sense of fantasy and whimsy, where anything is possible, and nothing can stop us from achieving what we want. The lyrics end with the idea of building a lovely stairway to the stars, where love will lead the way.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a romantic and dreamy journey towards the unknown, where love is the driving force that leads us to the unattainable and impossible.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's build a stairway to the stars
Let's aim high and build a pathway to success and greatness
And climb that stairway to the stars
Let's work hard and make the journey towards success and greatness
With love beside us to fill the night with a song
Let's embrace love and enjoy the beautiful moments with our loved ones
We'll hear the sound of violins
We'll experience the beauty of music and art
Out yonder where the blue begins
Beyond the horizon, where the possibilities are endless
The moon will guide us as we go drifting along
We'll be guided and inspired by the natural beauty of the world as we move forward
Can't we sail away on a lazy daisy petal
Can't we escape the stresses of life and find peace and tranquility?
Over the rim of the hill?
Can't we explore the unknown and find new adventures?
Can't we sail away on a little dream
Can't we chase our dreams and turn them into realities?
And settle high on the crest of a thrill!
And achieve the ultimate satisfaction and excitement that comes with success
Let's build a stairway to the stars
Let's keep striving towards success and greatness, no matter how challenging the journey may be
A lovely stairway to the stars
A beautiful and fulfilling journey awaits us if we work hard and aim high
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Frank Signorelli, Matt Malneck, Mitchell Parish
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind