Short Synopsis
The first definitive biography of Gene Krupa, the most famous drummer on the planet, whose feverish rhythms leapt across genres to change music forever. From jazz to the Swing Era, to rock and roll, Elton John's biographer, Elizabeth J. Rosenthal, recounts the pioneering drummer's exploits, challenges, and accomplishments.

Full Synopsis
From the early 1930s onward, Gene Krupa was a drum-centric rarity in the jazz world. Never before had a drummer been in the forefront as a solo artist. His galvanizing, unrestrained passion for percussion demanded it. Rocking the rafters, Gene thrilled audiences in ballrooms, nightclubs, and movies.

Seemingly born jazz-drum crazy in 1909 to a Polish-immigrant working-class family in South Chicago, Gene was a professional by the age of thirteen and soon made his first recordings. By the early 1930s, he was New York City's most in-demand drummer, and in 1934, joined brilliant clarinetist Benny Goodman's band, helped inaugurate the Swing Era, and played the first-ever swing concert at Carnegie Hall. He formed his own band and shattered racial boundaries by sharing the spotlight with the African-American trumpeter Roy Eldridge. But after a skyrocketing ride to the top, Gene experienced a rollercoaster ride of good and bad luck, emotional highs, and devastating depths.

In The Master of Drums, biographer Elizabeth J. Rosenthal crafts a celebratory, honest, and exhaustively researched portrait of a twentieth-century music legend. When he died, Gene Krupa may have left behind a world of grieving friends, colleagues, fans, students, and progeny, but as The Master of Drums proves, his dynamic musical and cultural influences live on.

"A valuable look at the life and career of one of the top stars of the Swing Era. An admiring biography of the drummer best known for his work with the Benny Goodman big band. . . . an enjoyable read for fans of early jazz." ---Kirkus Reviews