Famous Clarinetists
Benny Goodman, The King of Swing
Benjamin David Goodman was born on May 30, 1909 to an immigrant tailor who had fled from Russia to Chicago, Illinois. Benny began playing professionally at the tender age of 11, and at only 16 years old, became a member of the Ben Pollack band, which resulted in Benny moving to Los Angeles.
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Buddy DeFranco, Greatest Jazz Clarinetist (Living)
Born on February 17, 1923 as Boniface Ferdinand DeFranco, the jazz great more commonly known as Buddy DeFranco still plays the clarinet everyday at the ripe age of 89. He has worked as a professional clarinetist for the past 74 years, a feat that is unmatched in jazz, or any other genre, although Benny Goodman, came close (sort of), with a career spanning a mere 64 years.
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