Collection is open for research and access on site by appointmen. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Donated to the Archives Center in 2011 by Leslie Schillinger.
The collection is arranged in one series.
: Gene Krupa was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1909 to devout Roman Catholic parents who hoped he would enter the priesthood. He began playing drums professionally in the mid 1920s and in 1927 made his first recordings with Eddie Condon and other notable jazz musicians of the "Chicago" scene. After joining Benny Goodman's band in 1934, he became nationally famous. His interludes on the hit "Sing, Sing, Sing" were the first drum solos ever commercially recorded. With his own orchestra, he appeared in several movies during the Swing era of the 1940s and as himself in biographical films during the 1950s. Still performing in the 1960s, he also opened a music school. Gene Krupa died in 1973.
Leslie Schillinger Collection of Gene Krupa Materials, 1945-1970, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Processed by Anne Jones (volunteer), July 2012; supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist.
The collection documents the musical career of Gene Krupa, including a biography from a magazine. There are four souvenir programs from concerts by notable musicians and orchestras. Two of these feature Gene Krupa. Others include Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Ahmad Jamal, Dakota Staton, Guy Lombardo, Frankie Carle, Bob Crosby, Freddy Martin and Margaret Whiting. In addition, a list of hits from a radio station and a photograph of Krupa from a magazine are found among the materials.
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply.
The Division of Culture and the Arts holds artifacts related to this collection including, twenty two pieces of a Slingerland drum set with accessories and a stool used by Gene Krupa when playing in the Benny Goodman orchestra in the 1930s. In addition, there is an album containing eleven sound recordings of Gene Krupa and his Orchestra. See Accession numbers 2010.0242 and 2010.3098.
Gene Krupa," by Arnold Shaw