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 Quill Gene Quill Daniel Eugene Quill (December 15, 1927 – December 8, 1988) was an American alto saxophonist known for his bebop jazz records with Phil Woods. He and Woods recorded as Phil and Quill. Additionally, he played with the big bands of Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Claude Thornhill and Gerry Mulligan. Seminal albums include "Four Altos" with Phil Woods, Hal Stein, and Sahib Shihab, and "Phil & Quill", both on Prestige. In 1988, Gene Quill died at the age of 60 in his hometown of Atlantic City, NJ. As a Leader With Manny Albam With Bob Brookmeyer With John Carisi