Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton claimed to have written King Porter Stomp in 1906 and first recorded it in 1923. Fletcher Henderson wrote an arrangement of the tune and recorded it a couple of times. But the song finally became a hit when Benny Goodman’s orchestra recorded Henderson’s arrangement for Victor Records in New York City on July 1, 1935.

In 1935 Benny Goodman was just emerging as a band leader and swing was just emerging as the dominant popular music of the next decade. Goodman’s record was released on July 31 of that year, just as the band was becoming the hottest topic in American popular music after their legendary performance at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles earlier that same month.

The recording features lead trumpet player “Bunny” Berigan using a straight mute from the first measure and later improvising with an open horn. The trombone soloist is Jack Lacey, and Goodman solos, too. The call and response out chorus demonstrates the excitement that a big band can create for its listeners. The arrangement swings from beginning to end and has become the classic rendition of the song that achieved jazz standard status.

Here is a link to the 1935 Goodman recording of King Porter Stomp:

"KING PORTER STOMP"