Known as the “King of Swing,” Benny Goodman was a pioneering American clarinetist and bandleader whose innovative sound helped define the swing era of the 1930s and 1940s. Blending classical precision with jazz spontaneity, Goodman brought big band music into the mainstream and played a key role in breaking racial barriers by featuring integrated ensembles. His landmark 1938 Carnegie Hall concert cemented jazz as a respected art form, and his influence continues to shape generations of jazz and popular musicians.