The Gene Krupa Story drums. Considerable liberty was taken with the actual timeline of events in Gene's life; for example, the picturing of Bix Beiderbecke arriving at a party in Krupa's New York apartment in approximately 1934, several years after Beiderbecke had actually died. The Gene Krupa Story The Gene Krupa Story (also known as Drum Crazy) is a 1959 biopic of American drummer and bandleader Gene Krupa. The conflict in the film centers on Krupa's rise to success and his corresponding use of marijuana. The young Gene Krupa (Sal Mineo) brings home a set of drums and puts them in the family room.
Billy Mitchell (jazz musician) Billy Mitchell (jazz musician) William Melvin Mitchell (November 3, 1926 – April 18, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Mitchell was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He and his family moved to Detroit, where he received early music education at Cass Tech. He was known for his close association with trumpeter Thad Jones, who was also from Detroit, and worked in several big bands, including Woody Herman's when he replaced Gene Ammons. In 1949 Mitchell recorded with the Milt Buckner band, as well as making several recordings with Thad Jones. From 1951 to 1954, Mitchell led the house band