1909 – 1986

Benny Goodman

American jazz clarinetist and bandleader (1909–1986)

orchestra leaderrecording artistjazz musiciansaxophonistfilm actor

Born

1909-05-30, Chicago

Died

1986-06-13

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

Benjamin David Goodman was born in Chicago on May 30, 1909, and died on June 13, 1986. An American jazz clarinetist and bandleader, he was known as the "King of Swing." He worked as an orchestra leader, recording artist, saxophonist, film actor, and conductor throughout his career.

Occupation

Benny Goodman is recorded as a orchestra leader, a recording artist, a jazz musician, a saxophonist, a film actor, a bandleader, a conductor, a clarinetist and a composer, born in Illinois (1909–1986).

Connections to Illinois

Benny Goodman was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1909. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

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Historical Maps

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Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

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Spotlight

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Points of Interest

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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

Ronald Reagan

president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)

Walt Disney

American animator, producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor and entrepreneur, founder of The Walt Disney Company (1901–1966)

Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Benny Goodman

Who was Benny Goodman?

Benny Goodman was American jazz clarinetist and bandleader (1909–1986), born in Illinois (1909 – 1986).

When and where was Benny Goodman born?

Benny Goodman was born on 1909-05-30 in Chicago.

When did Benny Goodman die?

Benny died on 1986-06-13.

What was Benny Goodman known for?

Benny Goodman is recorded as a orchestra leader, a recording artist, a jazz musician, a saxophonist, a film actor, a bandleader, a conductor, a clarinetist and a composer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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