The life of Benny Goodman (Steve Allen) who defined jazz with popular appeal to Middle America culminates with a concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938, proving how he solidified the music in America’s songbook. From his early roots with Jewish parents Mama Goodman (Berta Gersten) and Papa Dave Goodman (Robert F. Simon), he takes up music. His success with the clarinet is only matched by his marriage to Alice Hammond (Donna Reed). He gathers together a remarkable band, including Fletcher Henderson (Sammy Davis, Sr.) and Lionel Hampton (Lionel Hampton), Gene Krupa (Gene Krupa), as members of his band, and Martha Tilton (Martha Tilton) as his main vocalist.