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"The King of Swing," Beny Goodman, answers questions during a February, 1964 press conference at Tokyo's Okura Hotel. With Goodman in the top photo are band members, left to right, Dick Shreve, Monty Budwig and Chalin Bailey. (Masahiko Nakamure / ©S&S)
TOKYO — Benny Goodman, an older idol, made a few comments on the newest teen-age idols, the Beatles, at a press conference after arriving here Saturday.
"The youngsters of every generation need their idol, and the Beatles came along at the right time under the right circumstances," said the King of Swing.
"I can't comment on their music though." he added.
One reporter reminded Goodman that he was once a craze in American music too. "I hope it was a bit different than this though," replied the musician.:
"I love music," he said. "The Beatles are very frank about what they love. Their answer to a question about whether they loved music or not drew .the answer, 'We don't love the music; it's the money.' "
"I think they're cute," Goodman added.
Goodman, on his second tour of Japan, is accompanied by Richard G. Shreve, pianist; Don Chastain, vocalist; Chalin J. Bailey, drums, and Monty R. Budwig, bass, for his swing through Japan.
The four, combined with Goodman, will provide the jazz half of their shows in Japan.
Goodman said he would play classical music, including Mozart's "Clarinet Concerto," for the first half of his shows, and jazz the last half.
"Personally, I think every note Mozart wrote is charming," replied Goodman to a question on why he chose to play Mozart during the classical half of his performances.
When asked why he choose the four men to tour Japan, with him, he said, "When you hear them, you'll know."'
Goodman said that six or seven years ago when he toured Japan, Prince Akihito attended one of his shows and seemed to enjoy it. "I hope he'll come again to hear us play," he said.
The clarinet maestro was asked how he felt about Soviet. Premier Khrushchev's "cool" reaction to jazz during the tour Goodman made through Russia in 1962.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I don't think ex-President Eisenhower was a great jazz fan either," said Goodman
One woman reporter told Goodman lie looked like he had high blood pressure.
"I don't think I have, but now :that you've said that, maybe I'd better go to a doctor and get it checked on," he said, chuckling.
Someone noted Goodman lighting up his pipe and asked how long. he'd been smoking one.
"For a long, long time. It's not a recent acquisition," he said.
In closing the conference, Goodman said that on his last tour of Japan in 1957 the audiences were very receptive, and said he hopes the Japanese jazz fans would like the programs planned for this tour.
