Re: Benny Goodman

[Susan Lerner <meydele...>]

One of my bar mitsve students (I help prepare kids for their bar and bas 
mitsves at a secular Jewish Sunday school here in LA) has chosen that discreet 
and manageable topic "Jewish Musicians."  With a little prodding, he's narrowed 
it down a bit to Benny Goodman and Leonard Bernstein.  We are hoping the list 
can help with 2 questions we have about Benny Goodman:

1. Is there any information about Goodman's feelings about his Jewishness?  Any 
comments he made or letters written that would be helpful, or a particular bio 
which discusses this?

2. Did he arrange or record any Jewish songs?

Undoubtedly, we'll have some questions in a few weeks about Leonard Bernstein. 
;-)
Thanks for your help!  
Shira Lerner

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