Gene Krupa Gene Krupa Eugene Bertram Krupa (January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973) was an American jazz drummer, band leader, actor, and composer known for his energetic style and showmanship. His drum solo on "Sing, Sing, Sing" (1937) elevated the role of the drummer as a frequently used solo voice in the band. He is also known for defining the standard drum kit used today in collaboration with brands Slingerland and Zildjian. Krupa is considered "the founding father of the modern drumset" by "Modern Drummer" magazine. The youngest of Anna (née Oslowski) and Bartłomiej Krupa's nine children, Gene Krupa was born
Gene Allen (musician) Gene Allen (musician) Eugene Sufana Allen (born December 5, 1928, East Chicago, Indiana - February 14, 2008) was an American jazz reedist, who primarily played baritone saxophone and bass clarinet. Allen began playing clarinet and piano as a child, and was playing with Louis Prima at age 15 in 1944. He stayed in Prima's band until 1947, then worked with Claude Thornhill in 1949-1950 and Tex Beneke in 1951-1953. In 1953 he began playing with the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, playing with them intermittently until 1961, and also worked with Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Hal McKusick in the 1950s. Toward the