~ The Swing Era was the most popular period in jazz history.
~ Important Performance (for Benny): on August 21st 1935 when Benny's band played the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles.
~ This performance was "sensational" and marked the beginning of the years that Benny would become the "King Of Swing".
~ He was crucial in inspiring the movement of jazz to become the "mainstream" genre for the public to listen to.
~ He was very popular especially among white audiences.
~ Even with the "Swing Era" coming to an end, Benny still continued to play music in the "swing style".
~ The Swing Era came to a close as WWI approached.
~ Now that the Swing Era was over Benny tried his luck in classical music, doing solos with major orchestras, and studying with internationally acclaimed clarinetists such as Reginald Kell.
~ In 1982, Benny was recognised and awarded by the Kennedy Centre for his lifetime achievments in swing music (especially throutout the "Swing Era").
~ He continued to play the music that "defined his lifetime" with occasional concerts until his sudden death in June 1986 due to an unfortunate cardiac arrest.
~ Throughout his outstanding career, and with the times always changing, Benny did not change his style to conform with the latest trends or the new styles but he continued to retain the original sound that defined the Swing Era and the sound that gave him his title of the world renowned "King of Swing".
~ Important Performance (for Benny): on August 21st 1935 when Benny's band played the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles.
~ This performance was "sensational" and marked the beginning of the years that Benny would become the "King Of Swing".
~ He was crucial in inspiring the movement of jazz to become the "mainstream" genre for the public to listen to.
~ He was very popular especially among white audiences.
~ Even with the "Swing Era" coming to an end, Benny still continued to play music in the "swing style".
~ The Swing Era came to a close as WWI approached.
~ Now that the Swing Era was over Benny tried his luck in classical music, doing solos with major orchestras, and studying with internationally acclaimed clarinetists such as Reginald Kell.
~ In 1982, Benny was recognised and awarded by the Kennedy Centre for his lifetime achievments in swing music (especially throutout the "Swing Era").
~ He continued to play the music that "defined his lifetime" with occasional concerts until his sudden death in June 1986 due to an unfortunate cardiac arrest.
~ Throughout his outstanding career, and with the times always changing, Benny did not change his style to conform with the latest trends or the new styles but he continued to retain the original sound that defined the Swing Era and the sound that gave him his title of the world renowned "King of Swing".
