Gene Krupa
Best remembered as both an eccentric entertainer and a talented drummer, Gene Krupa is often credited with popularizing the standard drum kit still heavily used today, responsible for shaping the recognizable modern kit with its tunable double-headed toms.
“The original, the most inspirational of all, Gene Krupa thrust the kit drummer into the limelight in massive fashion, dominating the screen in several Hollywood movies. Totally mesmerising, he sparked the fashion for crowd-pleasing drum solos that has never really gone away, despite the best efforts of mean spirited music journalists.”
Read more: http://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/100-most-influential-drummers-of-all-time-432429/13
Jazz musician Eddie Condon describes his time in the Okeh Records recording studio with Krupa:
“Mezzrow was helping Krupa set up his drums. ‘What are you going to do with those?’ Rockwell asked. ‘Play them,’ Krupa said simply. Rockwell shook his head. ‘You can’t do that,’ he said. ‘You’ll ruin our equipment. All we’ve ever used on records are snare drums and cymbals.’ Krupa, who had been practicing every day at home, looked crushed. ‘How about letting us try them?’ I asked. ‘The drums are the backbone of the band. They hold us up.’ I could see that Rockwell was leery of the whole business; drums or no drums, I figured, we are probably going to get tossed out. ‘Let the kids try it,’ McKenzie said. ‘If they go wrong I’ll take the rap.’ I didn’t know until long afterwards that Red had guaranteed our pay for the job.”
