Alexander's Ragtime Band

Benny Goodman

About Alexander's Ragtime Band

Alexander's Ragtime Band is a 1938 musical film released by 20th Century Fox that takes its name from the 1911 Irving Berlin song "Alexander's Ragtime Band" to tell a story of a society boy who scandalizes his family by pursuing a career in ragtime instead of in "serious" music. The film generally traces the history of jazz music from the popularization of Ragtime in the early years of the 20th century to the acceptance of swing as an art form in the late 1930s using music composed by Berlin. The story spans more than two decades from the 1911 release of its name-sake song to some point in time after the 1933 release of "Heat Wave", presumably 1938. It stars Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman, Jack Haley and Jean Hersholt. Several actual events in the history of jazz are fictionalized and adapted to the story including the tour of Europe by Original Dixieland Jass Band, the global spread of jazz by U. S. soldiers during World War I, and the 1938 Carnegie Hall performance by The Benny Goodman Orchestra. There are no mentions of the primary importance of blacks in creating and playing jazz anywhere in the film. 


Year:
2001
2:10
18 
#1

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Come on and hear, come on and hear
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Come on and hear, come on and hear 
It's the best band in the land

They can play a bugle call
Like you never heard before
So natural that you want to go to war

That's just the bestest band what am, Honey Lamb

Come on along, come on along
Let me take you by the hand
Up to the man, up to the man
Who's the leader of the band

And if you want to hear the Swanee River played in ragtime

Come on and hear, come on and hear
Alexander's Ragtime Band

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Benny Goodman

Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing". more »

1 fan

Written by: Irving Berlin

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


8 facts about this song

Historical Context
"Alexander's Ragtime Band" was composed by Irving Berlin in 1911 and is widely considered the first major hit of his career. Alice Faye and Benny Goodman's rendition came years later in 1938.
Composition
While its title propagates it as a ragtime song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" actually features more of a march tempo than traditional syncopated ragtime melodies.
Influence
This song was hugely influential for Berlin and helped establish his international reputation as one of the leading songwriters of his time.
Movie Connection
Alice Faye and Benny Goodman performed this song in the 1938 movie "Alexander's Ragtime Band." The film, named after the song, was a major box-office success and won an Oscar for Best Original Story.
Song Reception
"Alexander's Ragtime Band" was a major hit and sold over a million sheet music copies in 1911. Its success indirectly helped fuel the dance craze known as the foxtrot.
Cultural Impact
The song revived the popularity of ragtime music, leading to a ragtime revival in the '40s and '50s. Berlin, inspired by the song's success, went on to compose many more popular songs.
Benny Goodman's Role
Benny Goodman, known as the "King of Swing", brought a unique energy to the song through his smooth clarinet playing. Goodman's orchestra also featured in the 1938 movie.
Alice Faye's Impact
As a leading lady in musical films, Alice Faye's interpretation of the song became one of her memorable performances. She sang it in the movie with a distinct sense of rhythm and phrasing that mirrored the era's style.

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