I am going to admit something here on BAP today - I have had an enormous crush on Gene Krupa, the jazz drummer, pretty much all my life. The fact that he died when I was 11 really doesn't enter into it. I love watching clips of him playing - he seems to be having so much fun -- and I love listening to his fabulously energetic and inventive drum solos. Besides, I think he was really cute. Really cute - especially when that lock of black hair would fall across his forehead when he got rocking.
Krupa wasn't just a glamour-boy - he essentially invented the drum solo as an integral part of a musical number, rather than drums just providing background percussive rhythm. Generations of drummers who came after him, including Buddy Rich, have acknowledged their debt to his innovative playing.
Krupa's most well-known number is probably "Sing Sing Sing," which he recorded with Benny Goodman's band in 1937. The number is an astonishing 8 minutes and 40 seconds long - and Krupa plays full-speed ahead through the whole song.
In this clip, you can see Krupa's joyous energy - this piece features Krupa's own band (I'm not sure of the date).
Finally - here's a clip from the 1941 movie "Ball of Fire," starring Barbara Stanwyck (who knew she could sing?) and Gary Cooper, in which Krupa proves that he could even make matchsticks swing.
Okay, I realize this is a lot of clips, but as I said, I heart GK. Big sigh!
Laura! Gene Krupa was my era, when you were 11! He was the first we ever heard of who went to jail for the evil weed "Marajuana" and came out, to a tainted career. We did not know what marajuana was, and could not imagine a musician going to jail.Ken saw him perform at the Trenton Armory, his first appearance after being released.1946?47?
Everyone was sobered but trying to champion him. THESE CLIPS ARE from his glorious days
Thank you.
Posted by: Grace Cavalieri | April 27, 2009 at 08:04 PM
He actually got a bum rap for that charge. His valet, who was being drafted, left it for him as a "going-away" present, I think in a suitcase, and Krupa didn't even know it was there until he got busted with it. Ever after, people thought he was a druggie, but he wasn't. He even dropped out of the music business in the 1950s because drug use became so prevalent - went home to Yonkers, coached his kids' Little League teams, and lived a private life until he began to perform a little again in the 1960s. He died in 1973 - only 64 - of heart disease and leukemia. Sad.
I am jealous that Ken got to see him! Next time we get together, we'll drink martinis and he has to tell me all about it.
Posted by: Laura Orem | April 27, 2009 at 08:16 PM
Sing Sing Sing is one of my favorite pieces of all time. It is pure energy. If ever a song made me want to learn to swing dance, Sing Sing Sing is it. And the Krupa passages are pure joy. Thanks for this!
Posted by: Stacey | April 27, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Some cool videos here,
Gene Krupa was the man! He made the drum set a feature of modern music.
Posted by: Mark - Total Drums | April 28, 2009 at 09:45 AM
Thanks, Mark - these are great videos, especially the battle with Buddy Rich.
Posted by: Laura Orem | April 28, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Liquid electric! These make me want to be a drummer. One more "Gene Krupa" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqSUYzg18jM
Posted by: Account Deleted | April 28, 2009 at 06:24 PM