Recorded on January 16, 1938, but not issued until 1950; the recording captured the premiere performance given by jazz big band in the famed concert venue. The event has been described as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music. The concert sold out weeks in advance, with the capacity 2,760 seats going for a top price of $2.75 a seat - 63.75 in 2025 dollars.
There is much confusion about how the live concert was recorded for posterity. The concert was recorded at request of Benny Goodman's friend Albert Marx as a gift to his wife, Helen Ward, with another copy as a gift to Goodman. For about twelve years Benny Goodman's copies sat in his closet until 1950, when he passed the masters to Columbia Records. The highlight of the evening was Gene Krupa’s now famous drum solo during the song “Sing Sing Sing” Visit Carnegie Hall’s Benny Goodman Archive page for more about the historic occasion, including excerpt from the concert.