Benny Goodman Discusses Charlie Christian and Sings One of His Solos (Audio)

Our 1981 “Guitar Player” Interview

Welcome to my Talking Guitar podcast featuring Benny Goodman talking about groundbreaking jazz guitarist Charlie Christian. When he joined the Benny Goodman Sextet in 1939, Charlie Christian was virtually unknown outside of Oklahoma. Thanks to his groundbreaking records with Goodman, by the time of his death in March 1942, Christian was the foremost electric guitarist in jazz. His influence still reverberates in modern music. To this day, one of the best compliments a jazz guitarist can hear is, “Hey, you sound like Charlie Christian!”

While I was an editor for Guitar Player magazine in the early 1980s, I proposed that we do a cover story celebrating Charlie Christian on the 40th anniversary of his passing. In addition to writing a biographical article, I reached out to three men who knew him: Barney Kessel, who idolized Charlie and had the opportunity to jam with him; bandleader Benny Goodman, who at the time of Charlie’s ascendency led the top swing band; and Benny’s brother-in-law, legendary Columbia Records producer John Hammond. My interview with Benny took place on November 24, 1981.

As soon as I got off the phone with Benny, I called John Hammond, who referenced his insightful autobiography, John Hammond on Record, during our talk:

And here are Barney Kessel’s heartfelt recollections of Charlie Christian, with whom he jammed:

Transcriptions of all three interviews were published in the March 1982 issue of Guitar Player magazine. For more on Charlie Christian, I recommend A Biography of Charlie Christian, Jazz Guitar’s King of Swing, co-authored by Craig McKinney and my friend Wayne Goins.

I hope you enjoy these unique recordings. To help us continue producing podcasts such as these, please become a paid subscriber and/or hit the donate button and send some much-appreciated support our way.

Thanks to engineer/producer Nik Hunt for enhancing the sound of the 42-year-old master tape. Be sure to check out the other historic interviews on our Talking Guitar YouTube channel.

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