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Benny Goodman’s Carnegie Hall concert of 1938
sensationally recreated by Pete Long’s All-Star Goodmen Orchestra
January 16th 1938 – Musical and Political history established!
When John Hammond and others presented the Benny Goodman Orchestra of mixed races at Carnegie Hall in 1938 they were taking a huge gamble. Their main aim was to elevate swing music from the dance halls, clubs and dives to the concert platform, but this was at a time when racial segregation in America was rife.
Musicians ignore race and always respect the ability of other players, thus Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Lester Young, Gene Krupa, Harry James, Lionel Hampton and Teddy Wilson, amongst other famous players, all rubbed shoulders at Carnegie Hall and were part of an historic musical event in 1938. As Gene Krupa’s infectious drum rhythms introduced Louis Prima’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” to close the show, and after all the musicians had woven a magical web of excitement, an overflowing integrated crowd rose to its feet in a frenzy of dancing and cheering.
This blatant mingling of races in a musical concert was the real start of breaking America’s segregation policy, even before black and white sportsmen mixed, before black servicemen were given the same rights as their white counterparts, and when lynching still happened.
Thank you Benny Goodman, John Hammond and those famous musicians for establishing the most sensational jazz concert of all time, and for bravely breaking down racial barriers.
for more history and snippets from the original show by Benny Goodman
watch the video on the left of this page
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