Benny Goodman had already broken new ground when he performed with his jazz and swing band in Carnegie Hall on January 16, 1938. The prestigious venue famous for hosting great classical musicians was now a venue for America's music, jazz. One year later Goodman ushered in a new sound when his sextet performed at the prestigious venue, this time featuring Charlie Christian, one of the earliest practioners of the electric guitar.
John McDonough is a Senior Editor for DownBeat magazine, a contributor to NPR and the Wall Street Journal and a lecturer in Jazz History at Northwestern University in Chicago.
