Few drummers have had such an impact on popular music and Gene Krupa (1909-1973). Krupa was the first to put together modern drum kit: a combination of snare drum, bass drum, hi-hat and cymbals. He was also the first (in 1928) recorded the sound of the bass drum. Krupa began playing drums at the age of eleven. His breakthrough in the Chicago jazz scene came as drummer in the band Thelma Terry. He
… later played in New York in the big band of Benny Goodman before he formed his own group in 1938. Krupa's explosive style influenced not only jazz drummers. For rock drummers like Keith Moon and John Bonham Krupa was an idol.more