Gene Krupa, in full Eugene Bertram Krupa, (born January 15, 1909, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died October 16, 1973, Yonkers, New York), American jazz drummer who was perhaps the most popular percussionist of the swing era.
After the death of his father, Krupa went to work at age 11 as an errand boy for a music company. He soon earned enough money to purchase a musical instrument and decided upon a drum set because it was the least expensive instrument in a wholesale catalog. In the early 1920s, Krupa learned from and sometimes jammed with many of the great jazz performers who were then in Chicago, receiving his greatest inspiration from New Orleans drummer Baby Dodds. Immersing himself in the study of jazz, Krupa began to play in several Chicago-area jazz groups with musicians such as Frank Teschmacher, Bix Beiderbecke, and his future employer Benny Goodman.
In 1927, during a recording session with the McKenzie-Condon Chicagoans, Krupa became the first drummer to use a full kit on a recording, a significant technological accomplishment during a time when the pounding of a bass drum could easily dislocate the stylus on the recording equipment. Recordings from this session are regarded as the first aural example of authentic Chicago-style jazz.
Krupa worked for several bands during the early 1930s and was a drummer in the pit orchestras for two Broadway musicals by George Gershwin. By 1934 Krupa was the most sought-after drummer in the business. He was persuaded by the record producer John Hammond to join Goodman’s band, with the assurance that the band would prominently showcase his drumming talents. Krupa stayed with Goodman until 1938 and played on many of the band’s best-known recordings (such as the classic drum workout “Sing, Sing, Sing”); he was also a fixture in the Benny Goodman Trio (featuring Goodman and pianist Teddy Wilson) and subsequent Quartet (adding vibraphonist Lionel Hampton). With his movie-star good looks and tousle-haired, gum-chewing “hot jazzman” persona, Krupa attracted many female fans and provided the Goodman band with much of its visual appeal, elevating the role of the drummer from mere timekeeper to front-line performer. To many swing fans, Krupa epitomized jazz drumming; he went on to become perhaps the most famous drummer in jazz history.
Gene Krupa And His Orchestra - 1935-1938 {The Chronological Classics, 754} [62:39]
01. The Last Round Up (2:46)
02. Jazz Me Blues (2:46)
03. Three Little Words (2:48)
04. Blues Of Israel (3:14)
05. I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music (3:07)
06. Mutiny In The Parlour (3:05)
07. I'm Gonna Clap My Hands (3:00)
08. Swing Is Here (2:59)
09. Grandfather's Clock (2:46)
10. Prelude To A Stomp (2:52)
11. One More Dream (2:21)
12. The Madam Swings It (2:35)
13. I Know That You Know (2:15)
14. Feelin' High And Happy (2:45)
15. Fare Thee Well, Annie Laurie (3:00)
16. Jam On Toast (2:30)
17. If It Rains, Who Cares? (2:24)
18. Wire Brush Stomp (2:16)
19. What Goes On Here (In My Heart) (2:21)
20. There's Honey On The Moon Tonight (2:10)
21. Meet The Beat Of My Heart (2:46)
22. My Own (3:04)
23. You're As Pretty As A Picture (2:51)
Gene Krupa And His Orchestra - 1938 {The Chronological Classics, 767} [62:11]
01. Rhythm Jam (2:50)
02. Nagasaki (2:27)
03. Any Time At All (3:05)
04. Tutti Frutti (2:27)
05. Tell Me With Your Kisses (2:47)
06. Bye Bye Blues (2:48)
07. After Looking At You (2:43)
08. Love Doesn't Grow On Trees (2:50)
09. Walkin' And Swingin' (2:33)
10. Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down (2:49)
11. Wait Until My Heart Finds Out (2:45)
12. Jeepers Creepers (3:03)
13. Say It With A kiss (3:01)
14. Lightly And Politely (2:40)
15. Bolero At The Savoy (2:44)
16. Murdy Purdy (3:06)
17. Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Der-E (3:08)
18. I Won't Believe It (3:09)
19. Never Felt Better, Never Had Less (2:47)
20. An Old Curiosity Shop (3:00)
21. Apurksody (2:56)
22. Do You Wanna Jump, Children? (2:31)
Gene Krupa And His Orchestra - 1939 {The Chronological Classics, 799} [62:20]
01. The Lady's In Love With You (2:47)
02. Some Like It Hot (2:33)
03. Quiet And Roll 'Em (3:06)
04. The Madam Swings It (3:03)
05. Dracula (2:41)
06. My Hands Are Tied (2:50)
07. Variety Is The Spice Of Life (2:44)
08. Foo For Two (2:35)
09. Hodge Podge (3:06)
10. Swanee River (3:03)
11. Challenger Chop (3:02)
12. Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair (2:29)
13. Don't Be Surprised (2:42)
14. You Taught Me To Love Again (2:50)
15. Down By The Old Mill Stream (2:43)
16. Jungle Madness (2:54)
17. Guess I'll Go Back Home (This Summer) (3:12)
18. You And Your Love (3:13)
19. Moonlight Serenade (3:15)
20. Old Black Joe (2:19)
21. Whisper While We Dance (2:43)
22. Sweetheart, Honey, Darlin', Dear (2:29)
Gene Krupa And His Orchestra - 1939-1940 {The Chronological Classics, 834} [65:55]
01. My Old Kentucky Home (2:40)
02. Take Your Love (2:42)
03. I Like To Recognize The Tune (2:57)
04. All Dressed Up (Spic And Spanish) (2:27)
05. On The Beam (2:43)
06. Symphony In Riffs (2:57)
07. After All (2:52)
08. You're A Lucky Guy (2:45)
09. Vagabond Dreams (2:37)
10. Drummin' Man (3:05)
11. I'd Love To Call You My Sweetheart (2:50)
12. Three Little Words (2:34)
13. Marcheta (2:51)
14. Blue Rhythm Fantasy - Part 1 (3:02)
15. Blue Rhythm Fantasy - Part 2 (2:53)
16. A Lover Is Blue (2:55)
17. I've Go No Strings (2:41)
18. The Rumba Jumps (2:59)
19. I've Got My Eyes On You (2:55)
20. The Woodpecker Song (3:00)
21. A Lover's Lullaby (3:05)
22. It Happened In Kloha (3:00)
23. Boog It (3:27)
Gene Krupa And His Orchestra - 1941 Vol. 2 {The Chronological Classics, 1006} [65:05]
01. 'Til Reveille (2:25)
02. Afraid To Say Hello (2:54)
03. Love Me As I Am (2:59)
04. The Cowboy Serenade (3:16)
05. Kick It (2:25)
06. After You've Gone (2:36)
07. Got A Letter From My Kid Today (3:15)
08. Have You Changed? (3:13)
09. Tunin' Up (2:54)
10. Rockin' Chair (3:01)
11. Come Be My Love (3:02)
12. Amor (3:11)
13. Rancho Pillow (3:07)
14. Stop! The Red Light's On (3:17)
15. You Were There (3:02)
16. Watch The Birdie (3:10)
17. Who Can I Turn To? (2:42)
18. The Walls Keep Talking (3:11)
19. The Anniversary Waltz (2:39)
20. Two In Love (3:12)
21. This Time The Dream's On Me (2:51)
22. Violets For Your Furs (2:43)
Gene Krupa And His Orchestra – 1940, Vol. 3 {The Chronological Classics, 917}
01. You're Breaking My Heart All Over Again (3:09)
02. Down Argentina Way (3:06)
03. Moon Over Burma (3:18)
04. High On A Windy Hill (3:02)
05. I Hear Music (2:57)
06. Like The Fella Once Said (2:34)
07. Somewhere (3:13)
08. I'd Know You Anywhere (2:34)
09. How 'Bout That Mess? (2:45)
10. You Danced With Dynamite (3:26)
11. When You Awake (3:01)
12. It All Comes Back To Me Now (3:12)
13. Hamtramck (2:56)
14. Yes, My Darling Daughter (2:31)
15. Full Dress Hop (2:46)
16. Sweet Georgia Brown (2:53)
17. Oh! They're Making Me All Over In The Army (2:48)
18. Deep In The Blues (3:20)
19. You Are The One (3:15)
20. Isn't That Just Like Love? (2:45)
21. You Forgot About Me (3:24)
