Peplowski, who died Feb. 2, started playing clarinet professionally at age 10 and went on to perform with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and to record on his own. Originally broadcast July 7, 1999.

Also a saxophone standout, he served as stylistic bridge between the Benny Goodman swing era and the genre-blurring present.

Going from my rowdy suburban school into the state band was a joy, even if I didn’t play for Princess Diana like the rest of my bandmates.

DAVID BIANCULLI, BYLINE: This is FRESH AIR. I'm David Bianculli. Ken Peplowski, the clarinetist and tenor saxophonist whose career spanned from the Benny Goodman Orchestra to decades of his own ...