On this day back in 1938 Carnegie Hall was the place to be as Benny Goodman and his Orchestra took to the stage for what is generally regarded as the first ever jazz concert to be held in a venue normally associated with classical music.
It took 12 years before recordings of the event surfaced in 1950 and they were immediately snapped up making it one of the first jazz albums to hit the million mark. Today, 83 years on, the music from that magical night still excites me.
And to think you could get a seat in the balcony for 85 cents!
There were many quotes from that night.
When asked how long the intermission would be Goodman replied, "I don't know. How long does Toscanini take?"
Before going on stage, Harry James remarked, "I feel like a whore in church!"
Lance
1 comment :
And I do believe it was Gene Krupa's birthday in the last day or two! What a concert this was ......
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