Gene Krupa: Swing Swing Swing

Check out this clip of Gene Krupa playing his signature "Swing Swing Swing" solo!
Excerpted from the "Gene Krupa: Swing Swing Swing" DVD.
More information at HudsonMusic.com

[@phoofaceable]

2 people dislike?? Why would you even be watching this if you didn't like it? He is a phenom . . the beginning of rock as we know today. I bow to your amazing talent.

[@MikeRB18]

I'm 21 years old, my dad drums in a band and he has a 70's ludwig set. Proud to say he's met Gene and Buddy before they past away! RIP to both legends.

[@thecubanism]

Gene, the man who bought drumming from the dork at the back to the star at the front, I don't care that he may not have had the nuances of Max Roach or the flair and technically ability of Buddy, but to me he was an accessible genius, someone who would have talked to anyone, unlike Rich, a mean tempered individual with an ego to match, thanks Gene, from your time with Benny, through your own band to your own small band, a life well lived and appreciated.

[@georginafairchild7609]

As a drummer myself I love these guys. Why do we need a competition. How lucky are we that we can these recordings of these artists. Nothing to squabble over, let's embrace these two icons.

[@ocho611]

"Buddy Rich is the greatest drummer who ever drew breath" -- Gene Krupa "None of us would even be doing this if it weren't for Gene" -- Buddy Rich

[@beelbrother1648]

and they were both reincarnated into the body of Zach HIll

[@ocho611]

@@beelbrother1648 ugh. what do you like best about Zach Hill? that he can move his arms fast in one direction; that he has no technique; or that he's a one trick pony? actually nevermind, I'm not interested.

[@beelbrother1648]

you sound like a very pleasant person

[@ocho611]

@@beelbrother1648 i actually am. but what you said was utterly ridiculous.

[@beelbrother1648]

@@ocho611 hope you feel better soon. happy new year.

[@Theodorej1960]

Yesterday was my Pop's 82nd birthday. I gave him the 4 CD remastered set of Benny Goodman's historical 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert, featuring the talent of this great drummer. Pop, who has always been a great fan of Mr. Krupa, told me that Krupa had a habit of smoking a little reefer before his concerts. Whatever he did, it worked!! What talent!! I even listen to this music and enjoy it heartily. Thank you for posting this!!

[@tempo954]

Gene Krupa was one in a million, King of Swing!

[@j.s.connolly8579]

My Uncle "Buster" KNEW Gene when he saw him in the USO Shows during WWII. My Uncle was ALSO a drummer. And He and Gene became good friends. My dad told me that about a month after the war ended and his brother, My uncle "Buster" got home, He came home from work one Friday night and he ran in and said to my Dad, "Jimmy! You have GOT to come down to the Eagles Club with me tonight! A Friend of mine's band is playing and I want you to come and meet him! We met during the War! You just GOT TO Come with me!" Well my dad ALSO Just home from work, was really tired and said to my uncle, "Buster, I've had a LONG hard day. I don't want to go out!" But my uncle Persisted. Even offering to "Foot the Bill" as he would always put it and finally my Dad said "Ok Fine... Let me shower and eat dinner and we'll go!" So they got to the Eagle's Ball Room {In Downtown Milwaukee Wis.} And My uncle being about 6'3 and my Dad about 5'5 was able to see over everyone. So he says to my Dad, "Hey There's my friend. I will be RIGHT BACK!" So my Dad sees him wander through the thick crowd that had already formed and he barely sees him go UP on the stage and talk the band leader! Then he Whistles through his teeth with his Fingers to signal my Dad to join him... and when my Dad get's up there my Uncle says, "Jimmy I want you to meet my good friend Gene, Gene this is my kid brother Jim!" And It was IN FACT the GREAT "GENE KRUPA"! HOW FREAKIN' COOL IS THAT! My Dad said Gene even had my Uncle come up and Play a few songs with the Band! When Uncle died, in 1967 {I was only 2 at the time} Gene actually had been called about it by a mutual friend, and called My Grand Parents and spoke to my Dad, to send his Condolences and he Sent a HUGE Bouquet of Flowers for my Uncle with the card singed BY Gene and the Band! I barely remember my Uncle except for this Dark Haired TALL Smiling man playing in my Crib rail with Drum sticks! My Mom said every time he did this I would Smile at him and Laugh! My Uncle and My Grand Father are both my Name Sakes. Both were "Joe" and so I'm Joe Connolly the third. And LIKE My Uncle I too am a Drummer and a "Gene Krupa" Disciple! :D

[@willshaughnessy8515]

Great story My uncle Ed played on the Johnny Carson Tonight show Got to meet Buddy and many other greats.. i was 8 at the time .Buddy signed my snare drum head and said say hi to your uncle and tell him se em on Johnny s

[@GiaVolterradeSaulnier]

that match trick is awesome!

[@rustybuckets07]

sing,sing,sing is THE defining moment in jazz.Mr.Krupa ,you are worthy of the epithet LEGEND.

[@guitarswhiskeyandgolf]

In the case of Gene and Buddy the more i watch them the more i am amazed by it they both inspire me.

[@robertdevoy3119]

Through body language Krupa communicated just how much he loved to play.

[@MGB18]

Krupa = the original badass percussionist! He is also the father of the modern drum kit. Idolized by the likes of Buddy Rich, John Bonham, Keith Moon, Carmine Appice, Peter Criss, Neil Peart, Jerry Nolan and countless others, Krupa is simply the GOAT!

[@kidjackson8019]

Phenomenal drummer!! Where would all of us drummers be without him? His grave is 15 minutes away from where I am right now. I have visited it several times.

[@mk0879vg]

What a drummer, what a showman.

[@Rob_Kates]

Gene was great, Buddy was great. Enjoy them both.

[@baracatjr]

Gene Krupa made drums not only rhythmic, bul also melodic. He is great.

[@erichuge]

Happy Birthday Gene! He continues to be an inspiration to me even today.

[@frankcampbell4154]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I DON'T THINK THE GENE KRUPA VIDEO DOES JUSTICE TO THIS MAN'S PHENOMENAL TECHNIQUE. THERE IS LOTS TO LEARN HERE

[@eddiesalva890]

I like a lot of drummers but gene and buddy we're on another level 🥁

[@daddydave3541]

He plays the drums with so much skill and enthusiasm .

[@harlow743]

Gene is a major LEGEND!!!!

[@bigswingface5847]

There were so many great Master Jazz drummers, these childish comparisons are ridiculous. Enjoy and respect them for what they each uniquely brought to the art.

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

Morello’s Take 5 solo is one of the most musical percussion events I’ve ever heard. I loves it - and I be a geetar picker.

[@roybeckerman9253]

It shows how great he was, before illness plagued him later on. The original Godfather of feature drummers. Always stayed loyal to Slingerland, whereas many others changed brands ,with endorsements.

[@quicker1]

Was made about 18 months before he died too

[@MrDougiew1]

Roy Beckerman Buddy was still playing even after his triple heart bypass, he even played through a heart attack during his solo in Concert for the Americas, Krupa players like a bloody octopus, with his arms flaling about,

[@roybeckerman9253]

dougie w Gene was the Godfather. Buddy was the Greatest.

[@65drummer1]

@@MrDougiew1 Buddy was fixed medically and yes, he was able to continue playing. Gene played with degenerative disc disease plus leukemia , which was mostly a death sentence back in the early 70's. What I enjoyed the most was their close friendship and collaboration on a number of albums and concerts together. They didn't ever have but kind words for each other. That is true professionalism.

[@spercoco]

It's all about the groove and I don't give a fuck what Buddy Rich fanatics say; Krupa swung harder and was more syncopated. Sometimes it's not how many notes you play but the spaces that you leave that make things happen. Krupa was not afraid to leave space and to me that's what sets him apart from all the rest.

[@Grymmorgan]

+Steve Percoco Krupa's famous "almost sneeze" break remains one of the coolest moves in Swing/Jazz!

[@spercoco]

Grymmorgan I'm not familiar with that term. Could you sight an example from one of his many recordings or a youtube video?

[@eddiedial]

Couldn't agree more!

[@TheTechAndScience]

Edward gbone and music isn’t a sport, speed isn’t important.

[@daddydave3541]

I know what your saying and its true.

[@jangriffiths1305]

I am a great Gene Krupa fan ,,,,,He was the best !

[@280StJohnsPl]

Carnegie Hall Concert....a must listen to for any Gene Krupa fan !

[@nippegmt]

Happy Krupa's 105th Birthday

[@deadlymassacre1]

The drumming at the beginning was on fire.

[@ronnyrono782]

Quick music is timeless Gene Krupa is timeless

[@timcloutier3729]

True legend!!! 🤘🏼❤🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁❤🤘🏼

[@joelondon3658]

he is the drummerman! its all about the energy!

[@dearmalika]

Fantastic!

[@colleenhenry940]

Love his drumming! My dad had a few records of him playing

[@jcbmack]

Amazing Gene!!!

[@filippoc3120]

Gene krupa giant of drums

[@jameslanza9059]

Krupa the best.

[@arielgandara9311]

Totalmente!!!

[@russlupky3505]

The best at what HE does....

[@kimasabe]

HOT STUFF ~ Krupa still swings PLENTY! :)

[@ronaldciccone260]

I saw Gene Krupa in Person in NYC in 1966 i was 16.(from outside)

[@gmcjetpilot]

The rhythm was in his soul. It is not always what you play but how you play it. He kind of made the drums sing, musical and interesting playing.

[@MyDadWasALifeguard]

He has so many stickings for this..awesome

[@Crackers2549]

The "King" of drummers....!

[@denbatt]

how can that one person not like this?

[@generalpatzer6893]

Love that scene where he has the huge bass drum!

[@uktuki]

It doesn't get any better than Krupa!

[@TheMaisie80]

The best drummer ever....fab video....

[@shawnwright5332]

The man!

[@lastrada52]

The original Keith Moon was Gene Krupa. Astonishing. A wild man. That left hand was lightning.

[@AaronOG7]

I learned the matchbox solo, and now I can't stop playing it on my snare! (with the snares off, of course) :D

[@Sam-vk8xd]

Gotta replicate accidentally lighting the match and then slapping it off. Ha, such a great part.

[@maxwellspeedwell2585]

Alright you youngsters.... For those that don't know: *Krupa was drummer for; "The King of Swing", Benny Goodman *The song has for years been mistakenly called; "Sing, Sing, Sing" but way back it was "Swing, Swing, Swing" *As for Buddy Rich, even the worst of these great musicians (No, I don't know who would have been the worst) was phenomenal. Back in the '70's I played with one of the greats. He had tone to the bone, and one day a big band from the past happened to come to town. My friend thought he would go to the concert and maybe say "Hi" to Buddy. He was walking across the parking lot, looked up and said, "Oh, hi, Buddy!" Buddy was totally shocked and said, "Don! What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in forty years!" These guys had a comprehension of music and could compose like few can these days. Their understanding of music was beyond what I had ever experienced.

[@Marathonracer]

Maxwell Speedwell Sing, Sing, Sing was NEVER called "Swing, Swing, Swing" by anyone "way back", or ever. The original 78 recording on Brunswick by "Louis Prima and His NEW ORLEANS GANG" in 1936, is titled "SING, SING, SING" and underneath the title, " Louis Prima " right on the record, and NOT "Swing Swing Swing". I think that the composer himself, ought to know what he titled his own song. Benny Goodman was playing it that same year at the Palomar Ballroom as "Sing Sing Sing" and in 1966 told that history and clearly referred to it as 'Sing Sing Sing and said that audiences always asked for it. And in 1964, Louis Prima sang the lyrics as "Sing Sing Sing", then introducing the great Jimmy Vincent on drums. And the title was listed in the video as "Sing Sing Sing". I do remember, however, reading something about how Louis Prima originally was going to title it "Swing Swing Swing" but it was suggested to him that "Sing Sing Sing" was easier to say and sing, which it is. Louis Prima also played it much faster than Benny Goodman, and also sang the lyrics, also making Sing Sing Sing easier to sing. The sheet music itself is titled: "SING, SING, SING by Louis Prima. " Gene Krupa was actually far more than the phenomenal drummer who played with "The King of Swing", Benny Goodman, although he's certainly best known for that. I'm just adding to that. Gene Krupa was the first drummer to insist on recording with a full drum set , including the bass drum, in his first recording in 1927, when recording engineers were still afraid of a full set breaking the equipment. That's why you don't hear Baby Dodds playing his bass drum in 1923. Gene Krupa was the first to get Slingerland to manufacture the first tuneable tom toms. Gene Krupa left Benny Goodman in March, 1938, after the January 16 Carnegie Hall concert and two months later formed his own very successful, very famous orchestra. Gene Krupa , especially at the 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert, brought the drummer out front as a MUSICIAN and a SOLO ARTIST in his own right. Gene Krupa influenced more drummers than anyone including Buddy Rich. He was on the cover of every issue of Slingerland's catalogue from 1936 until 1967. Buddy Rich was not. In fact, that's one main reason that Buddy left Slingerland and started endorsing Ludwig, because he knew that Gene was number one with Slingerland. .

[@twoslices]

Magic!!

[@hogey74]

He's an insaniac!!! I just made that word up because of him.

[@hendrixv]

Amazing!!

[@juancarloszuniga5737]

GENE , y despues todos , fue inovador , saco la bateria del fondo gran showman

[@talltulip]

Ummm... several people are "correcting" the originator over the name of the song, stating that it is "Sing Sing Sing," not "Swing Swing Swing." Well, I don't know for sure of course, but I think that "Swing Swing Swing" was used as the name of this VIDEO (not the song), as a play on words: a combination of the song title "Sing Sing Sing" and Krupa's nickname of "King of Swing." He identifies the song title correctly in the body of the video, both in writing on the screen, and also in the narration. Just my two cents...

[@mikhailkost]

I'm assuming the one person who disliked this wishes they could be Gene Krupa.

[@born2grooveu]

The Rhythm King Krupa.

[@bevt8413]

BASS MARINO to

[@SAHBfan]

Oh jeez... I see the comment thread is infested with 'Buddy Rich is the greatest' trolls. The video is about GENE KRUPA - go and cheer lead for your super hero on the appropriate videos, please...

[@waynejones3428]

👍 😁

[@MIKIEEYEZ1975]

They were both great!! Let’s leave it at that!

[@altonwilliams7117]

SAHBfan Exactly!👍 Gene was Buddy’s hero.

[@MrDougiew1]

SAHBfan it’s just to prove that Buddy was the greatest, no this moron

[@65drummer1]

@@MrDougiew1 Gene said Buddy was alone at the top of the plateau due to his technique. Buddy was the most technical drummer of that era but he met his match with Joe Morello. Regardless, remember this; Gene Krupa pioneered the drumset from the back of the wall to the front of the stage. Buddy said at Gene"s funeral, that he did more for jazz drummers than anyone else. Consider this; Ringo Starr. Can't play much more than a straight four beat but is filthy rich. Technique is great but I know many drummers that still play the dives with good technique and do the 9 to 5 job throughout the week.

[@ronaldciccone260]

Gene Krupa and Benny Goodman from Chicago Illinois.

[@uebergeek]

That match piece is so intense, I actually thought I smelled sulfur at the end!

[@iliveforharleys]

I think Gene Krupa's style was to jazz what Keith Moon's style was to rock. Wild, all around the set but when broken down, outstanding.

[@canaldobaterista3865]

Parabéns ao canal 👏

[@CarlAfuPhace]

My god, the thing with the matchstick was awesome!

[@markdeanellen]

great the man who made drums an important instrument in the publics. view.

[@talbotvanman]

Gene was the guy who who I aspired to when I started playing in 1947 I bought every 78 and watched all the films he was in. I last saw him NY in 1963 playing with a quartet in the NY Long Bar(?) Always regret not getting to speak to him! Still playing aged 77 I keep asking myself would Gene have approved of that? Stops me from getting sloppy in my old age !!

[@Mr91495osh]

King of drums.

[@simontaylor2319]

I think Keith Moon may have watched this, but that's all he did. Krupa was in a class of his own

[@monicabella7894]

moon who !?

[@alee6406]

ive seen a lot of drum stick tricks, but the match sticks were just bananas

[@ChannelMaster720]

Sylvia Dixon: How can Gene move his hands and feet so fast? Even his head goes wild. So many drums and cymbals to keep him busy at one time. He is so outrageous! He can stop those hands in mid-air, on a dime, keeping in perfect tempo.

[@maxwellspeedwell2585]

...of course I should also mention, by the time it made it to release it had been called (pre-war, mind you), "Sing, Sing, Sing". Somewhere I have an old release and back then it was, "Swing, Swing, Swing".

[@timothyconnelly3034]

Go Gene Go...He even breathes in time while playing that matchless solo in his patented syncopated style on the box of kitchen matches...

[@bobbly7132]

Everybody says Gene is slower than Buddy. He looks pretty fast here to me.

[@ricardomoraes8422]

incredible..the best drumm..

[@miles-178]

Gene was the Best!!!!!

[@SeanAedan.007]

best drummer of all time...can you say KRUPA~~

[@steve89z]

cool man cool

[@creyd93]

RIP Gene

[@eduardo29080]

FUE EL MEJOR BATERISTA DE LA EPOCA DEL JAZZ, ESTUVO CON BENNY GOODMAN, FORMO SU PROPIA ORQUESTA, SE HIZO UNA PELICULA DE SU VIDA..¡¡¡¡¡

[@abbiebeast]

Animal period!

[@doth_impossible]

it makes me feel happy! Go Dancing... ya-hoo

[@yaakovyisraelsarahson4239]

TrapNation, Queen of The Golden Drums.

[@MyDyerMaker]

My favorite drummers: Bonham, Krupa and Morello.

[@hisvorpalsword]

"...and it sounded like the ghost of Gene Krupa with an overhead cam and glasspacks."

[@lunarcontact]

song is called "Sing Sing Sing" and started the Swing movement

[@chossta]

Gene Krupa onto genious krupa

[@T-Wolf43]

The Best

[@iPhuckSlow]

0:10 - 0:36 is my favorite part, no matter how simple it sounds, it's difficult to master

[@TheWarringtriad]

I don't know if this interests anyone but i am actually Gene Krupa who has risen from the dead.

[@YXE00]

Message to KZbin admin: Add a "Love" button for vids like this.

[@wilrobles5392]

Cool.

[@BigSeanPUK]

Any drummer should observe a minutes silence for Gene and all the other artists that dared to break the mould.

[@philipatoz]

Rock-era drummers really had nothing on guys like Gene and Buddy!

[@russlupky3505]

Well I have 2 words for you.....NEIL PEART

[@benitezbenitez1238]

El MAS GRANDE PARA MI..

[@renearayavidal6725]

GENE KRUPA...GENIO-

[@jimwerkheiser197]

"It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing" (Doowah, Doowah, Doowah, Doowah, Doowah!)

[@VIVADUDE07]

"Tiny drum set". Big ass sound ! He squeezed the hell out of that set............

[@dams2806]

my new hero this awesome cs,13/05/2011 now is god

[@arielgandara9311]

GENIOOOOOOOOOOO

[@malvinaabellon3695]

lo mejor que hubo