Died On This Date (October 16, 1973) Gene Krupa / Jazz Icon
themusicsover Gene Krupa
January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973
Gene Krupa was arguably the most influential jazz drummer of all time. Krupa learned to play drums as a youngster, and by his late teens he was playing his first professional gigs with bands throughout Wisconsin. He graduated to the Chicago scene in the late ’20s when he was selected to back the popular Thelma Terry and her Playboys. He played on six recordings by Terry. Krupa moved to New York City in 1929 to play with Red Nichols and eventually Benny Goodman, with whom he became a household name. In 1938, he formed his own band which featured such greats as Anita O’Day and Roy Eldridge. The next year, the band appeared as themselves in Some Like It Hot, in which they performed the hit song of the same name. Movie fans may also recognize Krupa playing himself in 1954’s The Glenn Miller Story which starred Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson. Krupa was also the subject of a Hollywood film, The Gene Krupa Story, which starred Sal Mineo as the drummer. He retired from performing to open a school in the late ’60s. Future Kiss drummer, Peter Criss was one of his students. Gene Krupa died of leukemia and heart failure at the age of 64.
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