The Instrumental Mr. Krupa

In 1925, jazz was a relatively new thing and the wedding between technique and feeling had not, as yet, taken place. As a drummer, Gene was no exception. In his own words: "For at least five years after I started drumming, I played less rudiments and more illegitimate jazz beats than anyone ever thought of playing. That was before I got wise and realised that a drummer, any drummer, can go just so far without the proper background." In the summer of 1926 Gene graduated from the backrooms when he was asked to play with Joe Kayser who fronted a well known Chicago band. He spent the entire summer playing around the Paw Paw Lake region in Michigan. From here on Gene established himself on the scene proper and was linked with several named bands, before making a household name for himself with his own orchestra.