Childhood

Benjamin David "Benny" Goodman was born May 30, 1909 in Chicago.

-He never had a strong relationship with his mother, but was heavily influenced by his father.

- Benny looked up to his dad and acknowledged all the sacrifices he made for his family.

- Benny was first introduced to musical instruments when a family from Boston moved in to a near by building with children who played instruments.

- A mile away, a synagogue was cheaply renting instruments, so Benny's dad made him and two of his brothers select an instrument.

- Harry was given the tuba because he was the biggest, Freddy the trumpet, and Benny the clarinet because he was the smallest.

- Benny was a natural and took lessons from Franz Schoepp, the finest clarinet teacher in the U.S.

- Benny had always loved Jazz, and looked up to the jazz clarinetist, Ted Lewis.

-Benny's father was his main motivator and pushed him to do music not only for his family, but for the history of American music as well.

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