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.
When The Buddah Smiles
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was a kind man,
Helping a fellow along,
One could not see,
One could not walk,
But they both were humming this song;
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
The sun comes shining through,
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you.
I used to worry,
I used to hurry,
Each time it started to rain,
Now I see light,
Learned wrong from right,
And you'll never hear me complain;
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you,
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
The sun comes shining through,
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you.
The song "When You're Smiling" by Benny Goodman is a cheerful tune that highlights the power of a smile. The lyrics tell a heartwarming story of a blind man who helps another man who cannot walk, both of them humming the song as they go along. The chorus emphasizes the contagious nature of a smile and how it can positively impact the world around you. It notes that when you laugh, the sun comes shining through, but when you cry, you bring on the rain. The song encourages the listener to stop sighing and be happy again, to keep on smiling because when you're smiling, the entire world smiles with you.
The lyrics suggest that a smile has the power to spread positivity, which is a powerful message for listeners. It also notes that the act of helping others can bring joy and a sense of purpose to one's life, something that the blind man exemplified. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy tune reinforce the positive message of the lyrics and make it an enjoyable tune to listen to.
Overall, "When You're Smiling" is a feel-good song that encourages people to find happiness in their lives and spread it to others. It reminds us that every small act of kindness can have a big impact and that a simple smile can go a long way in brightening someone's day.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw a blind man,
I witnessed a man who could not see, but who demonstrated his compassion by assisting another person who was also physically challenged.
He was a kind man,
This man exemplified a virtue of showing genuine care and concern for others.
Helping a fellow along,
He went out of his way to provide assistance to someone who needed help in navigating their way through life.
One could not see,
One person in this incident was visually impaired.
One could not walk,
Another person in this scene was unable to walk due to a physical disability.
But they both were humming this song;
Despite their limitations, both individuals had a joyful disposition and were singing this tune happily.
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
The act of smiling is contagious and can cause others nearby to feel more positive and happy as well.
The whole world smiles with you,
When you exude happiness, it can have a ripple effect and create a more positive atmosphere for those around you.
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
Laughter is another form of positive energy that can spread joy to others.
The sun comes shining through,
This line conveys the idea that a happy mood can create a brighter outlook on life and make things seem less daunting or difficult.
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
The opposite of a smile or laughter, crying can have a more negative impact on one's mood and emotions, and can make things feel more bleak or gloomy.
So stop your sighing be happy again,
This line is an encouragement to not dwell on negative feelings, but to seek out positive moments and thoughts instead.
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
Choosing a happy attitude can have a positive and lasting impact on your own life, as well as those around you.
The whole world smiles with you.
A happy disposition can create a domino effect in which those around you are influenced to also feel more positive and happy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay, Mark Fisher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Trombonology Erstwhile
Love this one. The band hadn't yet reached its zenith, but it was getting there. I love how Krupa pushes everybody.
David LoganSr
Yes!! I prefer Gene Krupa over Buddy Rich any day!
roybo1930
It`s Fun to compare the 1921 Paul Whiteman version to this later version! I LOVE Both, The Paul Whiteman Victor Medley is among the First Records I ever owned, My Little AWESOME Buddy Robert Creek introduced this version to Me! I LOVE IT!
Andrew Agustin
The song, Lucas with the lid off heavily sampled this song. And was well made.
Dr. Depper
☆☆☆
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