A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs Episode 1: “Flying Home” by the Benny Goodman Sextet
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Oct 7, 2018 AI Snips
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Swing's Roots and Societal Backlash
- Swing music's roots trace back to 1920s jazz, evolving from Dixieland jazz.
- Dixieland jazz faced similar societal backlash as later genres like rock and roll and hip-hop.
Whiteman's Influence on Jazz
- Paul Whiteman, the "King of Jazz," adapted jazz for a white audience by making it more structured and palatable.
- His large, chart-driven band contrasted sharply with smaller, improvisational jazz ensembles.
Goodman's Swing and Henderson's Arrangements
- Benny Goodman, the "King of Swing," led a popular swing band, incorporating elements of excitement from earlier jazz forms.
- He hired Fletcher Henderson, a Black musician, for arrangements, creating a more dynamic sound.