Gene Krupa: a Drummer with Star Power
Rising to fame with the Benny Goodman band, Gene Krupa was the first superstar drummer and led the way for percussionists to take center stage
- By Owen Edwards
- Smithsonian magazine, March 2011, Subscribe
When I was 7, my parents gave my brother a drum set. My brother was 14, and in my eyes he was a god; the drums he beat unmercifully in our living room added immeasurably to his aura. Made by Slingerland, they had a faux mother-of-pearl finish that caught the light in a way that suggested nothing short of magic.
A big part of this magic was that my brother’s drums—a snare, a big bass, two tom-toms (drums without snares), a high-hat (two cymbals brought together by a foot pedal), and two or three other cymbals—were exactly like those used by the great Gene Krupa. A drummer who had risen to fame with the Benny Goodman band, Krupa was to swing-era percussion what Gary Cooper and Humphrey Bogart were to movies of the day.
“Krupa was the first star drummer, the percussionist who transformed the drums from merely time-keeping to a prominent role as a solo instrument,” says John Edward Hasse, curator of American music at the Smithsonian Institution. Great drummers, including Buddy Rich and Max Roach, would follow his lead, but Krupa was the pioneer who gave percussionists the chance to take center stage. The drum set that inspired my brother now resides in the collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Eugene Bertram Krupa was born in Chicago in 1909 andbegan playing drums professionally in the mid-1920s; he was soon working with such greats as bandleaders Eddie Condon and Glenn Miller, cornetist Bix Beiderbecke and saxophonist Coleman Hawkins. After he joined the Goodman band in 1934, Krupa—with his musicianship and good looks—became a major attraction. He was also a member of the Benny Goodman Quartet, with Teddy Wilson on piano, Lionel Hampton on vibraphone, and Goodman on clarinet. The quartet was one of the first integrated jazz groups, and certainly the most famous.
At a groundbreaking Benny Goodman concert in Carnegie Hall on January 16, 1938, Krupa’s sensational driving beat behind “Sing Sing Sing”—and his reprise of the number in the movie Hollywood Hotel—defined him as the very model of a modern drummer. According to Kennith Kimery, executive producer of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Krupa’s fame had an unhappy consequence. “Krupa insisted on having drums in the forefront of the band. Benny Goodman wanted the audience’s focus to be on him,” Kimery says. “With certain numbers, Gene stole Benny’s thunder; in the end that cost him his job.” After leaving Goodman, Krupa formed his own band and became a frequent performer on television. He died in 1973 at age 64.
Around the time he left the Goodman orchestra in 1938, Krupa picked up a new set of Slingerland drums at the Fred Walker Instrument Company in Baltimore, Maryland, leaving his old instruments—emblazoned with his initials as well as those of Benny Goodman—at the company. In 1940, Walker customer Donald Hay, who played drums with a local swing band, bought the set. From 1944 to 1946, Hay served in the Navy, much of that time aboard the destroyer USS Wallace Lind, where he played drums with the ship’s band.
“After he got out of the Navy, he kept the drums in the basement and played along to big-band shows on the radio,” Leslie Schinella, the youngest of Hay’s three children, told me. “He had an Esso station and worked very long hours, so we heard him play mostly on Sundays.”
Hay died in September 2009 at 89. A hospice worker, Jennifer Betts, who had taken care of him, was the daughter of Keter Betts, singer Ella Fitzgerald’s bass player; Jennifer knew someone at the Smithsonian, and Schinella and her siblings agreed to donate their father’s drums to the Institution. “If a dealer had bought [them],” Schinella says, “we’d never have known where they went. But at the Smithsonian, they would be seen by a lot of people.”
When curator Hasse learned of the proposed gift, he and Kimery drove to Catonsville, Maryland, to verify their provenance. “The drums were the right vintage,” Kimery says. “They had calfskin heads, not modern synthetics; the tom-tom was on a tripod stand of the kind that isn’t used anymore. And of course there were the initials.”
At the Smithsonian, the Krupa drums will join a set used by Buddy Rich. Since the two masters were friendly competitors for the unofficial title of Crown Prince of Percussion, it’s a fitting reunion. Drum roll, please...
Owen Edwards is a freelance writer and author of the book Elegant Solutions.
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Comments (16)
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Gene Krupa was the truest of pioneers. I have been a drummer since birth (1964) and I have studied 'em all. There are literally hundreds of drummers I call my "influence"...but it starts and stops with Gene. He died the year I was nine years old, but I already knew who he was and how important his contribution was. I have finally, after alot of Process Of Elimination, whittled it down to my top four favorites...and, I am gathering images to be tattooed onto my back as my ultimate tribute to my Main Four: starting with the left shoulder blade; Gene, Buddy on the right, under Gene will be Keith Moon, then John Bonham. But Gene is FIRST. I have all the documentaries and have seen this set of drums at the Smithsonian, just staring, letting my romantic mind envision Gene's powerful presence, his unmatched showmanship, his adept skill, his movie-star looks, his legendary gentlemanly demeanor...and SWINGIN' sticks a blur while executing that famous rapid-fire triplet!! KRUPA FOREVER.
Posted by Kevin A. Crowley on February 24,2012 | 10:19 AM
Nice to see Mr. Krupa get some attention. On July 4th, 1999, I produced a tribute to him on the Yonkers, N.Y. waterfront. It was a success, and it was great to see the turnout. Among other smaller jazz groups present, was the New Gene Krupa Orchestra, led by my friend Mike Berkowitz. So if anyone would like to see and hear the original band's arrangements live, please look on the internet for their schedule. I also wrote a biography of Mr. Krupa. It can be found at Jazzsight.com. Being a drummer and bandleader myself (The Jazz Thunder Big Band), I adored Gene as a teen in the 1970's when everyone else was listening to contemporary music. "Gene's Blues", by an all star mid-size group appearing on the Krupa & Rich album, was one of my early faves. Mr. Krupa also featured the great Roy Eldridge on trumpet and made a legend of vocalist Anita O'Day.
Jack Twomey
Posted by Jack Twomey on September 21,2011 | 02:05 PM
I was 16 Years old working around the corner from mannys music. Gene Krupa used to play at the metropole cafe. There would be a big crowd out side trying to look in at Gene playin the drums. There was one funny thing. People wondering why I would be escored in. I knew the doorman Rocky. And Gene would say I am expecting my nephew.Whic i really was'nt .And to let him in. I was under age . And another plus was My step dad did Gene's Plumming and eletrical work at his home up on Tuchoe Rd in Yonkers NY. and I stayed on the steps leading up to the second floor to the Metropole. I was under age and those days you have to had what they call a ABC card. Gene used to come into Mannys Music. Thats how he became my mentor Now I am a drummer. I used to love to go to his home in Yonkers.while my step dad did his service calls. I lived in Peekskill NY and Croton NY also.But always keept an apartment in NYC. Great Childhood..Thank You Gene and his wife Laura.You will me Missed
..
Peter J Renko
Posted by Peter J Renko on September 18,2011 | 09:24 PM
I'm still partial to jazz post the big band years, but have to respect the music and its early star players. Future articles on blues musicians would be really insightful.
Keith Moon still has no equal in my mind!
Posted by Deborah Taylor on March 29,2011 | 12:44 AM
Having started drumming on a used, still in fabulous condition, Slingerland double-tom set with real calfskins in the mid-60's I learned quickly of Gene Krupa's legacy. The photo in the article seemed odd to be from c. 1970 and the photo of the drum set, especially the placement of hardware and sizing of the snare seemed odd; so thank you to those who commented in clearing up the confusion. While it is very disappointing that so little research was done for this article, I am glad it was written. First, it brings back a memory of a man that was a pioneer in his field. Krupa was not the only great big band drummer, however he did take the instrument and make it a melodic part of the band not just a timekeeper, remember this was big band not dixieland. Secondly, the article generated a great conversation with my mother who related seeing Krupa when she and her friends donned bobby-sox (they were older than the teens wearing the same) to go to a Krupa concert. Yes, I would have liked the article to be more accurate, still the main fact is correct - Krupa had a sensational beat.
Posted by Jim Terrinoni on March 29,2011 | 09:44 PM
ive never heard about him, but it is interesting to know a little more of Kruppa self.
Posted by Carla Torres on March 11,2011 | 06:16 PM
Sorry Guys, I had a quick look at your Archive center, and under films of Gene Krupa I comment as follows: 2.It is Carolyn Grey and not GRAY.4.THE UNKNOWN DISC JOCKEY??? IT IS FRED ROBBINS ( I HAVE THE ORIGINAL FILM AND ORIGINAL THRILLS OF MUSIC FILM POSTER).
Again in your archive center "they all played Tiger Rag compiled and annotated by David A Jesen. you state Dec 2 1934 as the date for the Benny Goodman Trio to have recorded this tune???? TEDDY WILSON didn't join the GOODMAN TRIO FOR THE FIRST COMMERCIAL RECORDINGS until JULY 1935!They first played TIGER RAG on a Camel Caravan broadcast on Sept 22 1936 in Boston at the Ritz Carlton. The BG Quartet then commercially recorded TIGER RAG on Nov 18 1936 but this was unissued; finally the Trio commercially recorded 2 takes of the tune DECEMBER 2 1936! ANY JOBS GOING !!!!!!!
Posted by Jerry Brennan on March 10,2011 | 05:33 AM
Dear Sirs,I have idolised Gene Krupa for 44 years ( so what!) I am very surprised that an organisation suh as yours can put out such a ludicrous article and commentary about this great manwhich has many inaccuracies. To start with; when you say "Rising to fame with the Benny Goodman band, you mispell his name!!!!It is KRUPA NOT kruppa. How and on what accurate basis ( because there are'nt any ) can someone quote "Gene STOLE Goodman's thunder" and in the end it cost him his JOB.
All you have to do is take some time and do some research all the info is still around, and this is very basic stuff! The photo that Darren Thomas Brennessel refers to is from 1946.
The Drum set pictured is FLAWED WITH MANY MISTAKES.
No one won more Drum contests than Gene and no Drummer has ever been as famous as he was at the height of the Swing and Big Band Era, and he was Slingerland's No 1 Endorser consistently for over 30 years.I am British, and am very surprised that a well respected organisation allowed such a poor submission to be printed.
Posted by Jerry Brennan on March 9,2011 | 05:49 AM
Gene "Kruppa"?
Posted by Chris Allen on March 8,2011 | 10:11 PM
Incorrect Date of Gene Krupa photo
The photo of Gene Krupa is definitely not c. 1970. The youthful look of his face, the hairstyle, clothing , lighting and quality of the black and white film makes this obvious. This photo was taken sometime between 1945 and 1955. By 1970 Gene looked like a 61 year old man would look, with wrinkles and gray hair, though still great looking for his age. But not as good as the in the photo you have used. Odd that anyone at your magazine could have thought this was a photo of Gene from 1970 given your reputation for attention to detail and accuracy. Not being critical, just surprised.
Darren Thomas Brennessel
Rochester, NY
Posted by Darren Thomas Brennessel on March 7,2011 | 07:13 PM
gene krupa was like my father i started playing at 9 years old and it was gene that was my teacher, from gene i was friends with buddy rich, from buddy i was best friends with sinatra, from sinatra me and louie belson and roy burns were like brothers. and this all started with gene. that started it all fo me i loved the man. see the drum set that sinatra and buddy gave me on youtube. sinatra and phil ambros ,if you every want me to play at your place i will talk all about the drummers above and show you how all played it never ends music and drumming and jazz started with the king of all drummers gene krupa what luck to have had him in my life...........mr drums phil ambros i hope the yong people know that.....gene krupa was a master showman
Posted by phil ambros on March 6,2011 | 02:21 PM
I have a picture of myself, I was about 17 or 18, and a friend, Gary Thornton, with Gene Krupa, that was taken on the second floor of the Metropole Cafe in NY City in the mid 60's. Gary's mom, Valma and Gene Krupa where friends since childhood, so I was told. Gary was also a drummer. Gary and I had been to the Metropole several times, traveling from Philadelphia, to see Gene and I was supprised when Gene waved at me and said hi Denny from the stage behind the bar.
Posted by Dennis Stewart on March 3,2011 | 02:59 PM
Thanks for the wonderful piece on Gene Krupa. He was an idol of mine, in my younger life, because my Dad also played the drums in a little group of his from Hoboken, NJ. Let's not forget a couple of other great drummers; Cozy Cole - famed for his recording of the award-winning and million copy record, entitled "Topsy Part2"and the great Louie Bellson, married to Pearl Bailey and a drummer star of the first magnitude.
Posted by Larry Purcell on March 2,2011 | 08:31 PM
I saw Gene at San Q. They had q raidio program an the theme was "Time on my Hands"
Posted by Joe Girimonte on March 1,2011 | 11:26 PM
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