Definition

Proper noun 1. A nickname for a prominent musician: Specifically, a title referring to the American clarinetist and bandleader Benny Goodman, who was a central figure in the popularization of the swing style of jazz music in the 1930s and 1940s.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Benny Goodman, the King of Swing, led one of the most popular big bands of the era.
  • The museum exhibit featured memorabilia from the King of Swing.
  • Many musicians credit the King of Swing with breaking racial barriers in the music industry.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used almost exclusively as an honorific title for Benny Goodman. It is capitalized and often preceded by the definite article "the."
  • We are studying the influence of the King of Swing on American culture.

Variants and Related Words

• Swing (n): A style of jazz that emerged in the 1930s, characterized by a strong rhythmic drive and a focus on danceable arrangements for big bands.
• Big band (n): A large musical ensemble that plays jazz or swing music, typically featuring sections of brass, woodwind, and rhythm instruments.

Synonyms

• Benny Goodman: The given name of the musician.
• The Swing King: A less common, synonymous honorific.

Related Idioms

• To be crowned the king of something: To be widely recognized as the best or most important person in a particular field. "King of Swing" is a specific, historical instance of this idiom.
  • His innovative style crowned him the king of swing.

Noun

1. United States clarinetist who in 1934 formed a big band (including black as well as white musicians) and introduced a kind of jazz known as swing (1909-1986)