Woody Herman was one of the most highly regarded band leaders in pop history, leading several incarnations of his "Herd" to fame and musical excellence with an upbeat style that combined the bounciness of swing music with the melodic sophistication of jazz. He got his start in vaudeville as a child star, and played saxophone professionally as a teenager. By age 20, he was leading his own orchestra and had switched to his signature instrument, the clarinet. From the 1930s through the '80s, the Woody Herman Orchestra underwent subtle stylistic mutations to reflect the times, but maintained a consistent level of mastery, partly the result of Herman's talent for hiring young, promising players. He continued to tour and record right up until his death in 1987.