Benny Goodman: The Quirky King of Swing

Benny Goodman is often hailed as one of the greatest bandleaders in jazz history, but here at Jazz Joy we're not afraid to poke a little bit of fun at him. In honor of his fondly remembered nickname -- The King of Swing -- let's take a closer look and consider some odd quirks and facts that you may not have known about this famous musician!

Benny Goodman is a household name in the world of jazz, and rightly so. He is known as one of the greatest bandleaders in jazz history and his contributions to the genre are immeasurable. But today, we're going to take a closer look at the man behind the music and explore some of his odd quirks and facts that you may not have known. So, get ready to laugh, scratch your head, and maybe even raise an eyebrow or two!

Firstly, did you know that Benny Goodman had a fear of flying? Yes, the man who traveled the world to share his music with the masses was terrified of flying. In fact, he used to travel by train everywhere he went. It wasn't until he was offered a large sum of money to perform in California that he finally bit the bullet and took to the skies. But, even then, it was reported that he was so petrified during the flight that he spent most of it laying down on the floor of the airplane!

Secondly, Benny Goodman was known for being quite the penny-pincher. He decried the high prices of things like coffee and would often gripe to his band members about how expensive things were. In fact, one time, he was so irritated by the price of a room-service breakfast that he walked all the way down to the hotel lobby to get a cheaper breakfast there instead. Now, that doesn't seem like a big deal until you realize that the hotel was 23 floors up and Benny had to walk down every single one of them to save a few cents!

Thirdly, it's no secret that Benny Goodman was a bit of a perfectionist. He demanded excellence from his band members and himself at all times. However, one of his quirks was the fact that he refused to perform in any venue that didn't have a wood dance floor. He believed that the acoustics and sound quality were far superior on a wood floor than any other kind. So, if a venue didn't have one, he would demand that one be installed before he would agree to perform!

Fourthly, Benny Goodman was a bit superstitious. He was known to carry a rabbit's foot with him at all times for good luck. He also believed in the power of the number 13, so much so that he would often schedule 13 performances in a row. On the 13th performance, he would wear a suit that he believed was lucky and would always perform his encore to the tune of Goodbye.

Lastly, and perhaps the quirkiest of all, Benny Goodman was a huge fan of canned salmon. Yes, the man who had access to the best food in the world loved nothing more than a can of salmon. In fact, he used to carry a can opener with him on the road so that he could indulge in his favorite snack whenever he wanted!

Benny Goodman may have been a musical genius, but he was also a bit of a character! From his fear of flying to his love of canned salmon, he was certainly one of a kind. But, at the end of the day, his music is what he will always be remembered for. So, let's take a moment to appreciate the King of Swing for who he was and what he gave to the world of jazz.