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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 1-25 of 171 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-56727 10-in. 9/30/1929 Lookin' good but feelin' bad Fats Waller’s Buddies ; Four Wanderers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-56728 10-in. 9/30/1929 I need someone like you Fats Waller’s Buddies ; Four Wanderers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-57145 10-in. 11/14/1929 Hello Lola Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-57146 10-in. 11/14/1929 One hour Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums, composer  
Victor BVE-59800 10-in. 5/21/1930 Rockin' chair Hoagy Carmichael Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-62301 10-in. 5/21/1930 Barnacle Bill, the sailor Hoagy Carmichael Orchestra ; Carson Robison Jazz/dance band, with 2 male vocal solos and male vocal chorus instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92210 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Makin' whoopee Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92211 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 I would do most anything for you Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92212 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Rose room Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92213 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Pardon my love Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92214 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 St. Louis blues Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92215 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Can't we be friends Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92216 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Royal Garden blues Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92217 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 When we're alone Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92218 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Sometimes I'm happy Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92219 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Anything goes Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92220 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Down by the river Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92221 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Ding dong daddy from Dumas Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-92222 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Stompin' at the Savoy Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-92546 10-in. 7/1/1935 Sometimes I'm happy Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-92547 10-in. 7/1/1935 King Porter Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-92549 10-in. 7/1/1935 Jingle bells Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-92704 10-in. 7/13/1935 After you've gone Benny Goodman Trio ; Gene Krupa ; Teddy Wilson Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-92705 10-in. 7/13/1935 Body and soul Benny Goodman Trio ; Gene Krupa ; Teddy Wilson Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-92706 10-in. 7/13/1935 Who? Benny Goodman Trio Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, traps  
(Results 1-25 of 171 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Krupa, Gene," accessed January 5, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103342.

Krupa, Gene. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103342.

"Krupa, Gene." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 5 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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