Glenn Miller (1904–44):

Trombonist and bandleader; formed his own band in 1937. Miller developed a peppy, clean-sounding style that appealed to small-town Midwestern people as well as to the big-city, East and West Coast constituency.

John Hammond (1910–87):

Influential jazz enthusiast and promoter who helped Benny Goodman, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and (much later) Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen secure recording contracts with Columbia Records, where he worked as an A&R (artists and repertoire) man.

Benny Goodman (1909–86):

Clarinetist and popular band leader; known as the “King of Swing.” His popularity and the success of his band helped establish the swing era in the early 1930s. He was the first white bandleader to hire black musicians in his band.

Fletcher Henderson (1898–1952):

Musician, bandleader, and arranger; he and his band are widely credited with inspiring the rise of swing music in the 1930s.

 William “Count” Basie (1904–84):

African American pianist and bandleader; gained much of his early experience as a player and bandleader in Kansas City, Missouri. His band was known for its improvisatory style and strong sense of swing. 

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899–1974):

Pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader; widely regarded as one of the most important American musicians of the twentieth century. As a composer and arranger, he devised unusual musical forms, combined instruments in unusual ways, and created complex, distinctive tone colors.

Roy Claxton Acuff (1903–92):

The most popular hillbilly singer of the swing era; in 1938, joined the regular cast of WSM’s Grand Ole Opry and soon became its biggest star. Acuff performed in a style that was self-consciouslyrooted in southern folk music.

Len Slye (1911–98):

Vocalist for and leader of the Sons of the Pioneers; later changed his name to Roy Rogers.

Bob Wills (1905–75):

Fiddler from East Texas whose musical career ran from the 1920s through the 1960s. His group, the Texas Playboys, pioneered western swing music. Bob Wills is today widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern country and western music.

Gene Autry (1907–98):

The first successful singing cowboy; born in Texas, he was a successful film star and a popular country and western musician. Helped establish the “western” component of country and western music. Developed a style designed to reach out to a broader audience, with a less pronounced regional accent, a deep baritone voice, and a touch of the crooners’ smoothness.