In the video above, Flash Mob Jazz plays Sing, Sing, Sing – made famous by Benny Goodman. — Share this link: https://vvn.net/sing-3x/
The song (music and lyrics) was actually written by Louis Prima, who first recorded it with the New Orleans Gang. It’s strongly identified with the big band and swing eras. Louis Leo Prima (1910 to 1978) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter from New Orleans.
Benny Goodman Lit This Song on Fire!
Benny Goodman played this song at his famous Carnegie Hall concert on January 16, 1938. Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman (1909 to 1986) was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the “King of Swing”. Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in the United States during that era.
His Carnegie Hall concert in New York City (16-Jan-1938) was described by historian and music critic Bruce Eder as “the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz’s ‘coming out’ party to the world of ‘respectable’ music.”
Benny was the ninth of twelve children born to poor Jewish emigrants. Since money was a constant problem his father took the children to free band concerts in Douglas Park – Chicago. It’s wonderful that David Goodman saw his children as a blessing and not a curse.
Goodman Helped Racial Integration in America
During an era of racial segregation, he led one of the first integrated jazz groups. In the early 1930s, black and white musicians could not play together in most clubs. In the Southern states, racial segregation was enforced by Jim Crow laws. Goodman hired men like Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton, and Charlie Christian. This integration in music happened ten years before Jackie Robinson became the first black American to enter Major League Baseball. According to Jazz by Ken Burns, when someone asked him why he “played with that nigger” (referring to Teddy Wilson), Goodman replied, “I’ll knock you out if you use that word around me again”.
Sing Along With Flash Mob Jazz
“With three part harmonies, scorching horn lines and a rip roaring rhythm section, Flash Mob Jazz harken back to the Golden Age of Swing with music from the likes of Benny Goodman, Louis Prima and others. They’ve also turned their talents to reworking 21st century songs from the modern era; transforming dance and pop hits into swing classics!”
An Instrumental Song about Singing? Yeah, Sometimes They Just Play Jazz
An original (all instrumental) recording by Benny Goodman.
Related video: Happy Birthday Jazz