The Master of Drums: Gene Krupa and the Music He Gave the World

Revolutionary drummer Gene Krupa (1909–73) pioneered the jazz drum solo in swing music during the 1930s and 1940s. He continued influencing drummers throughout his life, including rockers like Keith Moon and John Bonham. He performed the first recorded drum solo on the iconic hit “Sing, Sing, Sing” with Benny Goodman and his orchestra. Rosenthal (His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John) tells Krupa’s story with enthusiasm and an eye for detail in a narrative supported by extensive research. It’s an American story, with humble beginnings in gritty South Chicago and a career that takes him from small South Side clubs to appearances on bigger stages in the United States and abroad. Early in his career, he played in Broadway pit bands for the Gershwin musicals Strike Up the Band and Girl Crazy and won the composer’s approbation. Jazz greats Benny Goodman, Eddie Condon, Bud Freeman, Chick Webb, Glenn Miller, Roy Eldridge, and many others play a part in Krupa’s story as well. A 1959 biopic, The Gene Krupa Story featured Sal Mineo in the title role.