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Gene Krupa

Eugene Bertram Krupa (January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973) was an American jazz drummer, bandleader, and composer. Krupa is widely regarded as one of the most influential drummers in the history of popular music. His drum solo on Benny Goodman's 1937 recording of "Sing, Sing, Sing" elevated the role of the drummer from that of an accompanist to that of an important solo voice in the band.

In collaboration with the Slingerland drum and Zildjian cymbal manufacturers, he became a major force in defining the standard band-drummer's kit. Modern Drummer magazine regards Krupa as "the founding father of modern drumset playing".

Upon his death, The New York Times labeled Krupa a "revolutionary" known for "frenzied, flashy" drumming, with his work having generated a significant musical legacy that started "in jazz and has continued on through the rock era".

Birth and Death Data: Born Chicago (city and county seat of Cook County, and largest city in State of Illinois, United States of America), Died October 16, 1973 (Yonkers (city in Westchester County, New York, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1962

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums, traps, leader, composer, songwriter, arranger

Notes: Full name: Eugene Bertram Krupa

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 171 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-92707 10-in. 7/13/1935 Someday sweetheart Benny Goodman Trio ; Gene Krupa ; Teddy Wilson Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-96299 10-in. 11/22/1935 Sandman Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-97017 10-in. 9/27/1935 Madhouse Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-97752 10-in. 8/21/1936 Moon glow Benny Goodman Quartet Jazz/dance quartet instrumentalist, traps  
Victor PBS-97772 10-in. 8/26/1936 Dinah Benny Goodman Quartet Jazz/dance quartet instrumentalist, traps  
Victor PBS-97773 10-in. 8/26/1936 Exactly like you Benny Goodman Trio ; Lionel Hampton Jazz/dance trio, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-97774 10-in. 8/26/1936 Vibraphone blues Benny Goodman Quartet Jazz/dance quartet instrumentalist, traps, songwriter  
Victor BS-100012 10-in. 2/29/1936 I hope Gabriel likes my music Gene Krupa's Swing Band ; Benny Goodman Jazz/dance band, with clarinet solo leader  
Victor BS-100013 10-in. 2/29/1936 Mutiny in the parlor Gene Krupa's Swing Band ; Helen Ward Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-100014 10-in. 2/29/1936 I'm gonna clap my hands Gene Krupa's Swing Band ; Helen Ward Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-100015 10-in. 2/29/1936 Swing is here Gene Krupa's Swing Band Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor BS-100395 10-in. 4/23/1936 China boy Benny Goodman Trio Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-100396 10-in. 4/23/1936 More than you know Benny Goodman Trio Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-100397 10-in. 4/23/1936 All my life Benny Goodman Trio ; Helen Ward Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-100500 10-in. 4/27/1936 Oh, lady be good! Benny Goodman Trio Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-100501 10-in. 4/27/1936 Nobody's sweetheart Benny Goodman Trio Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-100502 10-in. 4/27/1936 Too good to be true Benny Goodman Trio ; Helen Ward Jazz/dance trio, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-02103 10-in. 10/7/1936 Riffin' at the Ritz Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-02460 10-in. 11/5/1936 Bugle call rag Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-03062 10-in. 11/18/1936 Sweet Sue (Just you) Benny Goodman Quartet Jazz/dance quartet instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-03063 10-in. 11/18/1936 My melancholy baby Benny Goodman Quartet Jazz/dance quartet instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-03064 10-in. 11/18/1936 Tiger rag Benny Goodman Trio Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-03549 10-in. 12/9/1936 When you and I were young, Maggie Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-03550 10-in. 12/9/1936 Gee! But you're swell Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Helen Ward Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-03551 10-in. 12/9/1936 Smoke dreams Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Helen Ward Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
(Results 26-50 of 171 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Krupa, Gene," accessed January 7, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103342.

Krupa, Gene. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 7, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103342.

"Krupa, Gene." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 7 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103342

External Sources

Wikipedia: Gene Krupa

Discogs: Gene Krupa

Allmusic: Gene Krupa

Grove: Gene Krupa

RILM: Gene Krupa

IMDb: Gene Krupa

Britannica: Gene Krupa

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Krupa, Gene, 1909-1973 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81129496

Wikidata: Gene Krupa - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q319980

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/59270053

MusicBrainz: Gene Krupa - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/fb23b49b-f964-46d0-a089-ae5e39956321

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/82039 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/82039

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