 In 1936 Elman joined the Benny Goodman orchestra as a trumpeter after playing briefly with a band led by Alex Bartha at Steel Pier in Atlantic City, where Goodman heard him.In 1938, while with Goodman, he got a contract with Bluebird, RCA's cheaper label, to record 20 sides as Ziggy Elman and his Orchestra, although all the members were in Goodman's band.One original tune was "Frailach in Swing," based on a 1918 recording of "Der Shtiller Bulgar" ("The Quiet Bulgar") by Abe Schwartz.