Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman was born into a family so poor that they often did not have enough to eat. However, Benny's father made sure there was enough money for music lessons. From his early days as a preteen sensation in Chicago's music scene, Benny rose to become one of the most important figures in jazz music. He was the first jazz artist to perform at New York's famous Carnegie Hall and made swing music popular all over the world. Along the way, Benny helped integrate big bands by performing with African—American musicians at a time when prejudice ruled society. Follow the amazing story of America's own “King of Swing” and learn amazing facts about jazz history in this biography.