The term "big band" is a vague jazz term but is typically referring to the swing era that started around 1935-1946. It evolved from blues and jazz of New Orleans, Kansas City, and Chicago. Duke Ellington, Ben Pollack, Don Redman, and Fletcher Henderson were some of the more popular early big bands when music was evolving in the 1920's. Many of them nurtured future stars like Coleman Hawkins, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Red Allen, Roy Eldridge, Benny Carter, and John Kirby.
In the beginning, people did not take easily to swing music, it was too rambunctious. Its improvisation, tempo, sometimes risque lyrics, and frenetic dancing were too much for those used to the traditional sweet arrangements. The jitterbug became a national craze.
Benny Goodman and his big band playing at the Palomar in Los Angeles in August of 1935 is considered the start of the swing era. Benny was often known as the king of swing. He was one of the greatest clarinet players of all time.
The popular spread of music was due to music boxes. Homer Capehart sold his Simplex record mechanism to the Wurlitzer Company who used his invention to make the jukebox. Jukeboxes changed music by allowing new tunes available to all in speakeasies, dance spots, ice cream parlors and even drugstores. Swing became the music of choice. Many record companies began to worry this would ruin record sales but the opposite happened. as more people were hearing the music, music became more desirable and record sales actually increased. Swing was everywhere!!
https://acousticmusic.org/research/history/musical-styles-and-venues-in-america/big-bands-and-the-swing-era
https://www.bennygoodman.com/
Andrea Fugitt
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