Trivia

Jazz clarinetist and orchestra leader.

He had two daughters: Rachel (born May 2, 1943) and Benjie (born April 1946). He also had three step-daughters: Gillian, Shirley and Sophia. All five daughters grew up in Benny's house.

His funeral included a nonsectarian service and Bible passages read by all five of his daughters. His Eulogy was given by his attorney and friend, Bill Hyland.

Received honorary doctorates from Union College, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), Bard College, Brandeis University, Columbia University, Harvard University, and Yale University.

Charter inductee of the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame (1978). Inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame (1983) and the Radio Hall of Fame (1988).

Following his death, he was interred at Long Ridge Cemetery in Stamford, Connecticut.

Pictured on one of a set of four 29¢ US commemorative postage stamps in the Legends of American Music series, issued 11 September 1996, celebrating big band leaders. Other band leaders honored in this issue are Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, and Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Miller.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 337-340. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons (1999).

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6101 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.

Kennedy Center Honors recipient (1982).