FIRST EDITION OF KINGDOM OF SWING, BENNY GOODMAN’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY, SIGNED BY BENNY GOODMAN, COUNT BASIE, LIONEL HAMPTON, JOHNNY MERCER AND DALTON RIZZOTTO, ALONG WITH ELEVEN MAJOR BAND MEMBERS AND JAZZ MUSICIANS

GOODMAN, Benny and KOLODIN, Irving. The Kingdom of Swing. New York: Stackpole Sons, (1939). Octavo, original black cloth, original dust jacket.

First edition of Benny Goodman’s autobiography, an exceptional association copy signed on the front free endpaper by Goodman and band leaders Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Mercer and Dalton Rizzotto, along with jazz musicians and band members, Jess Stacy (alto sax), Ziggy Elman (trumpet), Helen Humes (vocalist), Ben Heller (guitar), James Rushing (vocalist) and Buddy Schutz (drummer), with, on the front pastedown, signatures of Ralph Hawkins (trombone), Martha Tilton (vocalist), Joe Jones, Earle Warren (1st alto sax) and T[hurman] Teague (bass), along with the inscription in a secretarial hand, “Sincerely, Frank Sinatra,” in scarce dust jacket.

This scarce association copy of Goodman’s autobiography contains not only his signature but those of fellow bandleaders Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Mercer and Dalton Rizzotto, along with eleven pre-eminent musicians and band members of the time: Jess Stacy (alto sax), Ziggy Elman (trumpet), Helen Humes (vocalist), Ben Heller (guitar), James Rushing (vocalist), Buddy Schutz (drummer), Ralph Hawkins (trombone), Martha Tilton (vocalist), Joe Jones, Earle Warren (1st alto sax) and T[hurman] Teague (bass). “In a galaxy of jazz nobility, of Dukes and Counts and Earls, the proudest title was Benny Goodman’s. He was the King, and there was no more to be said…Year in, year out, it remained for most of us the band—full of invention and vitality and sheer overpowering musicianship… The very ease with which the band could give up its great stars and replace them with exciting new talents had something grand about it, like and indulgent emperor scattering handfuls of gems over a multitude” (Anton Myrer). “When B.G. became ‘King of Swing,’ he made this music the most vital and exciting kind of social-dance music ever created in America… Practically all by himself, he revolutionized the dance-band business” (Tirro, 233). Co-authored with music critic and historian Irving Kolodin. Containing frontispiece and four full-page photographic illustrations. With scarce dust jacket. With laid-in publisher’s card (4 by 4-1/2 inches).

Interior and signatures fresh and clean, expert restoration to cloth and dust jacket.