| under such conductors as Bernstein,
Toscanini and Ormandy. He performed new orchestral works of Bartok, Stravinsky
and Copland. The summer of 1932 saw Benny organise his first band which
starred singer Russ Columbo. The second band that he formed (in 1934) got
a job at Billy Rose's Music Hall. This band made some great recordings
and began appearing on the 3-hour NBC radio program called "Let's Dance."
After this, the Benny Goodman Orchestra toured (with not so fantastic results)
until August 21, 1935, when the Benny Goodman Orchestra opened in the Palomar
Ballroom in Los Angeles. After playing a few dance tunes, he told the band
to play some Fletcher Henderson arrangements. The audience promptly went
crazy about it --- this wonderful music called Swing, that they'd only
really heard before from his radio broadcasts. After this public approval
of the music, there was no looking back! |
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