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Benny Goodman (born Benjamin David Goodman) ws born and raised in a tenement in Chicago’s Maxwell Street ghetto in 1909. [Firestone (pg.18)]“One of twelve children born to an immigrant tailor and his wife named David Goodman and Dora Rezinsky who fled Russian anti-Semitism”, Goodman experienced hard times while growing up. [Collier (pg. 13)]“David Goodman quickly discovered that the Kehelah Jacob Synagogue, about a mile and a half form the Francisco Avenue house, had a boys’ band and offered some sort of instruction, along with musical instruments which could be rented cheaply.” So Mr. Goodman signed up three of his sons and the lessons begun; but the very next year Benny joined the boys’ club band at the Jane Addam’s Hull House. It was a settlement house or social service agency for the under privileged founded by reformer Jane Addams. Form the start; Goodman displayed an exceptional talent and [Tirro (pg. 237)]“he earned himself the reputation of being a perpetual student of music and instrumental virtuosity.” Benny also earned himself personal tuition form James Sylvester and then renowned classicist Franz Schoepp. Schoepp was probably his most important teacher, a classical instructor from the Chicago Musi