Gene Krupa in Chicago. Bartłomiej was an immigrant from Poland. Anna was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania and was also of Polish descent. His parents were Roman Catholics who groomed him for the priesthood. He spent his grammar school days at parochial schools. After graduation he attended Saint Joseph's College for a year but decided the priesthood was not his vocation. Krupa studied with Sanford A. Moeller and began playing drums professionally in the mid-1920s with bands in Wisconsin. In 1927 he was hired by MCA to become a member of Thelma Terry and Her Playboys, the first notable American jazz band—all-girl bands
Gene Williams (musician) the Gene Williams Orchestra. His sidemen included Stan Getz, Teddy Napoleon, and Mel Zelnick, and featured singers included Adele Castle. Gil Evans, Chico O'Farrill, Hubie Wheeler, and Joe Reisman all arranged for this ensemble. The group played college campuses and took an engagement at the Glen Island casino in 1952, also recording for Mercury Records. Gene Williams (musician) Eugene "Gene" Williams was an American jazz vocalist and bandleader. Williams began his career in 1942 as a member of the Duke Ambassadors under Sammy Fletcher, then worked in Johnny Long's orchestra while serving in the United States Army. After the war