Goodbye (Gordon Jenkins song)
Encyclopedia
Goodbye is a song written by American composer and arranger Gordon Jenkins
, published in 1935. It became well known as the closing theme song of the Benny Goodman
orchestra.
Jenkins had written the song when working with the Isham Jones
orchestra, and Jones allegedly rejected it as it was "too sad".
Music critic Alec Wilder
described "Goodbye" as "as sad a song I know" and Leonard Feather
called it among his "top ten songs it would be hardest to tire of hearing".
, who had performed with the Benny Goodman
orchestra. Tilton revealed that the song was written by Jenkins after the death of his first wife in childbirth.
commissioned an arrangement of "Goodbye" by Bill Jenkins
for clarinet and strings. The resulting "Goodbye: In Memory of Benny" was recorded by Stoltzman and London Symphony Orchestra
under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas
in 1992. Another arrangement in tribute to Benny Goodman has also been recorded by Sabine Meyer
.
Goodbye was also recorded by Frank Sinatra
for his 1958 album, Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely
, and Ella Fitzgerald
for her 1982 album The Best Is Yet to Come. Sinatra and Fitzgerald's versions were both arranged by Nelson Riddle
.
Gordon Jenkins
Gordon Hill Jenkins was an American arranger, composer and pianist who was an influential figure in popular music in the 1940s and 1950s, renowned for his lush string arrangements...
, published in 1935. It became well known as the closing theme song of the Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
orchestra.
Jenkins had written the song when working with the Isham Jones
Isham Jones
Isham Jones was a United States bandleader, saxophonist, bassist and songwriter.-Career:Jones was born in Coalton, Ohio, to a musical and mining family, and grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, where he started his first band...
orchestra, and Jones allegedly rejected it as it was "too sad".
Music critic Alec Wilder
Alec Wilder
Alec Wilder was an American composer.-Biography:...
described "Goodbye" as "as sad a song I know" and Leonard Feather
Leonard Feather
Leonard Geoffrey Feather was a British-born jazz pianist, composer, and producer who was best known for his music journalism and other writing.-Biography:...
called it among his "top ten songs it would be hardest to tire of hearing".
Origin
Jenkins' son, the sportswriter Bruce Jenkins, wrote a biography of his father entitled Goodbye: In Search of Gordon Jenkins. While researching the biography, Jenkins interviewed the singer Martha TiltonMartha Tilton
Martha Tilton was an American popular singer, best-known for her 1939 recording of "And the Angels Sing" with Benny Goodman. She was sometimes introduced as The Liltin' Miss Tilton.Tilton and her family lived in Texas and Kansas, relocating to Los Angeles when she was seven years old...
, who had performed with the Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
orchestra. Tilton revealed that the song was written by Jenkins after the death of his first wife in childbirth.
Recordings
The song was used as the closing theme for radio broadcasts by the Benny Goodman orchestra, and was recorded several times by Goodman in the mid 1930's. Upon Goodman's death in 1986, Richard StoltzmanRichard Stoltzman
Richard Stoltzman is an American clarinetist. Born Richard Leslie Stoltzman in Omaha, Nebraska, he spent his early years in San Francisco, California and Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from Woodward High School in 1960. Today, Stoltzman is part of the faculty list at the New England Conservatory...
commissioned an arrangement of "Goodbye" by Bill Jenkins
Bill Jenkins
Bill Jenkins may refer to:*William L. Jenkins, American politician*Bill Jenkins , American drag racer-See also:*Bill Jenkings, Australian news reporter*Billy Jenkins, musician*Bill Jenkins, host of Open Mind with Bill Jenkins...
for clarinet and strings. The resulting "Goodbye: In Memory of Benny" was recorded by Stoltzman and London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
in 1992. Another arrangement in tribute to Benny Goodman has also been recorded by Sabine Meyer
Sabine Meyer
Sabine Meyer is a German classical clarinetist.-Biography:Meyer began playing the clarinet at an early age. Her first teacher was her father, also a clarinetist...
.
Goodbye was also recorded by Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
for his 1958 album, Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely
Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely
Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely is a studio LP by the American singer Frank Sinatra...
, and Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
for her 1982 album The Best Is Yet to Come. Sinatra and Fitzgerald's versions were both arranged by Nelson Riddle
Nelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
.
- June ChristyJune ChristyJune Christy , born Shirley Luster, was an American singer, known for her work in the cool jazz genre and for her silky smooth vocals. Her success as a singer began with The Stan Kenton Orchestra. She pursued a solo career from 1954 and is best known for her debut album Something Cool...
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with Nelson RiddleNelson RiddleNelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
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and Quartet West with Diana KrallDiana KrallDiana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million worldwide; altogether, she has sold more albums than any other female jazz artist during the 1990s and 2000s...
- Sophisticated Ladies (Emarcy, 2010)
External links
- "Goodbye" at jazzstandards.com