Benjamin David Goodman was born to a large, but poverty stricken family on May, 30th, 1909. He was one of twelve children of an immigrant tailor who had fled anti-Semitism in Russia. He first picked up a clarinet at the Kehelah Jacob synagogue, where he got his first training. He then took lessons for two years from classically trained clarinetist, Franz Schoepp.
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Goodman made his professional debut in 1921 at the Central Park Theater in Chicago with an imitation of Ted Lewis. After entering Harrison High School in 1922, he played occasionally with the so-called Austin High School Gang (Bud Freeman, Jimmy McPartland, Frank Teschemacher, Dave Tough, and others), who modeled their music after the New Orleans Rhythm Kings; the clarinetist with the Rhythm Kings, Leon Roppolo, was an early influence on Goodman.
When his father died when Benny was fourteen, Benny began to work locally to support his family. He did this for over two years. In 1925, he began working as the star of Ben Pollack's band (though Goodman barely hid his disregard -- several times he booked recording dates with Pollack's players, but without Pollack). After resigning in 1929, Goodman worked with Red Nichols, as a studio musician, and then leading his own band at Bill Rose Music Hall (where he had a weekly NBC broadcast). .
Over the next five years (during which there were several riots at Goodman performances) in Chicago and New York, Goodman built a team which included trumpeter Harry James, drummer Gene Krupa, and black musicians Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton, and eventually electric guitarist Charlie Christian.
Known by musicians for his stand-offish and "cheap" nature, many sidemen had a love/hate relationship with Goodman. Many musicians claimed that Benny was dishonest when it came time to pay off the band. (I think this originated at the "place" where he first picked up a clarinet ";)" ) Many more recalled the Goodman "ray", the dirtiest of looks received when a mistake was made.
