2004
Legends in Concert: Benny Goodman
The jazz clarinetist and bandleader dubbed the King of Swing performs his final concert in 1980 at an unassuming club in Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens.
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Acting
Born
1916-02-28 · 100 yrs
Died
2017-02-07
From
Copenhagen, Denmark
Known for
Acting
Svend Asmussen (28 February 1916 – 7 February 2017) was a Danish jazz violinist, known as "The Fiddling Viking". A Swing style virtuoso, he played and recorded with many of the other jazz musicians, including Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Stephane Grappelli. He played publicly until 2010 when he had a blood clot, his career having spanned eight decades. Asmussen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, was raised in a musical family, and started taking violin lessons at the age of seven. Aged 16 he first heard recordings by jazz violinist Joe Venuti and began to emulate his style. He started working professionally as a violinist, vibraphonist, and singer at age 17, leaving his formal training behind for good. Early in his career he worked in Denmark and on cruise ships, with artists such as Josephine Baker and Fats Waller.…