Jazz Legend

Gene Krupa

An hour of classic Gene Krupa clips

Gene Krupa (1909-73) was the first superstar drummer and the one most responsible for the drums being featured as a solo instrument.

Jazz Legend, a definitive documentary from 2004, tells the Gene Krupa story with narration by Steve Allen, insightful comments from Louie Bellson, and lots of film clips, some of which were quite rare.

Over a dozen complete and classic performances of Krupa from the 1930s, 40s, ’50s and ’60s and ’70s are here with some of the highlights including “Sing, Sing, Sing” with Benny Goodman in 1937, Soundies with Anita O’Day and Roy Eldridge, “Disc Jockey Jump,” Krupa giving Sal Mineo a drum lesson (for the Gene Krupa Story), and a 1972 reunion with Goodman.

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