“IN THE MOOD”: THE SWING ERA, 1935–1945
Important Names and Brief Bios
Glenn Miller (1904–44):
Trombonist and bandleader; formed his
own band in 1937. Miller developed a
peppy, clean-sounding style that appealed
to small-town Midwestern people as well
as to the big-city, East and West Coast
constituency.
John Hammond (1910–87):
Influential jazz enthusiast and promoter
who helped Benny Goodman, Bessie
Smith, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and
(much later) Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan,
and Bruce Springsteen secure recording
contracts with Columbia Records, where he
worked as an A&R (artists and repertoire)
man.
Benny Goodman (1909–86):
Clarinetist and popular band leader; known
as the “King of Swing.” His popularity and
the success of his band helped establish the
swing era in the early 1930s. He was the
first white bandleader to hire black
musicians in his band.
Fletcher Henderson (1898–1952):
Musician, bandleader, and arranger; he and
his band are widely credited with inspiring
“IN THE MOOD”: THE SWING ERA, 1935–1945
the rise of swing music in the 1930s.
William “Count” Basie (1904–84):
African American pianist and bandleader;
gained much of his early experience as a
player and bandleader in Kansas City,
Missouri. His band was known for its
improvisatory style and strong sense of
swing.
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899–
Pianist, composer, arranger, and
1974):
bandleader; widely regarded as one of the
most important American musicians of the
twentieth century. As a composer and
arranger, he devised unusual musical
forms, combined instruments in unusual
ways, and created complex, distinctive tone
colors.
Roy Claxton Acuff (1903–92):
The most popular hillbilly singer of the
swing era; in 1938, joined the regular cast
of WSM’s Grand Ole Opry and soon
became its biggest star. Acuff performed in
a style that was self-consciously rooted in
southern folk music.
Len Slye (1911–98):
Vocalist for and leader of the Sons of the
Pioneers; later changed his name to Roy
“IN THE MOOD”: THE SWING ERA, 1935–1945
Rogers.
Bob Wills (1905–75):
Fiddler from East Texas whose musical
career ran from the 1920s through the
1960s. His group, the Texas Playboys,
pioneered western swing music. Bob Wills
is today widely regarded as one of the
pioneers of modern country and western
music.
Gene Autry (1907–98):
The first successful singing cowboy; born
in Texas, he was a successful film star and
a popular country and western musician.
Helped establish the “western” component
of country and western music. Developed a
style designed to reach out to a broader
audience, with a less pronounced regional
accent, a deep baritone voice, and a touch
of the crooners’ smoothness.
Xavier Cugat (1900–90):
Spanish-born violinist, bandleader, film
star, and unabashed showman, a.k.a. the
“Rhumba King.” The bandleader who did
the most to popularize Latin music during
the swing era. His band at the WaldorfAstoria Hotel in New York was a training
“IN THE MOOD”: THE SWING ERA, 1935–1945
ground for Latin music stars, including
Desi Arnaz of I Love Lucy fame, and
famously recorded “Brazil” in 1943.