Beginning with his "Band That Plays the Blues" in 1936, Woody Herman led a series of jazz big bands known for collective power and distinctive soloists. Herman's first hit, "Woodchopper's Ball," was a danceable, bouncing 12-bar blues inspired by the Count Basie and Jimmy Lunceford groups. His career-long theme song, "Blue Flame," featured his sexy, swooning clarinet, while "Caldonia" smoothed out Louis Jordan's jump blues with unison trumpets. "Four Brothers," a 1947 hit, launched a career-long commitment to hard-swinging, close-knit saxophone quartets.