Gene Krupa - Famous Drumming Legend
Gene Krupa was a jazz and big band drummer, known for his energetic and flamboyant style, who pioneered drum techniques and drum hardware. He was born in 1909 to Polish parents in Chicago, Illinois, and began playing professionally in the Chicago area in the mid 1920s. In 1927 he joined “Thelma Terry and Her Playboys,” and began to tour the United States. His first recordings were made with banjoist Eddie Condon and Red McKenzie, becoming the definitive examples of white “Chicago Style” jazz. There recordings were also notable for his use of a full drum kit, instead of just snare drums and cymbals. He was the first kit drummer to ever record using a bass drum pedal.
In 1929 he moved to New York, where he played with Red Nichols. In 1934 he joined Benny Goodman’s Orchestra, and his drum work made him a national celebrity. He played Slingerland drums, and is credited with asking Slingerland to develop tom-toms with tunable top and bottom heads. These also become standard. Krupa also collaborated with the Avedis Zildjian Company, manufacturer of Zildjian cymbals to create the hi-hat stand, and to standardize the names of various cymbals we take for granted today such as the ride cymbal, the crash cymbal, the pang cymbal, the splash cymbal and the swish.
Krupa went on to become one of the most influential and well known drummers in the 20th century. Gene’s drumming method was published in 1938, and immediately was recognized as the standard. He is also known as the inventor of the “rim shot” on the snare drum.
After a public disagreement with Goodman, he left to start his own band. Together with singer Anita O’Day and trumpeter Roy Eldridge, Gene had several hits, and even made a cameo appearance in the 1941 film Ball of Fire.
After a short stay in jail for possession of marijuana, Gene reorganized his band, including a large string section and Charlie Ventura on sax. It became one of the largest dance bands in the country. He continued to perform throughout the 40s and 50s, gradually reducing the size of the band. From 1951 on he led a trio or quartet, often with Eddie Shu on tenor sax, clarinet and harmonica, and appeared regularly with Jazz at the Philharmonic. Gene retired in the late 60s, although he continued to play in public occasionally until his death at 64.
Himself highly influenced by Chick Webb, Krupa influenced many rock drummers in the 60s, including of Deep Purple’s Ian Paice, The Who’s Keith Moon, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Peter Criss of KISS, Neil Pert of Rush and Paul Whaley of Blue Cheer. In 1978, Krupa was the given the honor of being first drummer inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.