He may not have been a virtuoso on the level of a Buddy Rich or as swinging a performer as Sid Catlett or Chick Webb, but Gene Krupa was the first drummer to ever become a household name. A superstar and a matinee idol during the Swing era and the decades that followed, Krupa was one of the most colourful and exciting of all drummers. He also led a significant big band during 1938-50.

Born 15 January 1909 in Chicago, Gene Krupa was classically trained on drums and throughout his career always took lessons. He first emerged as part of the Chicago jazz scene in 1925, working with the bands of Al Gale, Joe Kayser, Leo Shukin and bassist Thelma Terry in addition to the Benson Orchestra Of Chicago and the Seattle Harmony Kings. In 1927 he made his recording debut with the McKenzie-Condon Chicagoans and immediately made history by being the first musician to use a full drum set on records.

After moving to New York in 1929, Krupa worked with Red Nichols’ Five Pennies and became a busy studio musician, playing dance music on radio and records. That lucrative work allowed him to weather the Depression but the music bored him and he longed to play jazz. That opportunity came his way in December 1934 when he was hired to be the drummer with the new Benny Goodman Orchestra. Krupa played with Goodman on the famous Let’s Dance radio series, went on the historic cross country tour that almost ended in disaster a few times and helped launch the swing era at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles when Goodman’s orchestra created a sensation. While Krupa was a relatively quiet drummer with Goodman during 1935–36, by 1937 he was taking drum solos (most notably during “Sing Sing Sing”) and was almost as popular as the King of Swing, being one of the stars of the Benny Goodman Trio and Quartet.