Sing, Sing, Sing - Benny Goodman Orchestra - Gene Krupa, Harry James 🎺

[appalachiablue]

- The Anthem of Swing Music. From the movie, 'Hollywood Hotel' 1937. Drums, Gene Krupa, trumpet, Harry James.
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- Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the 'King of Swing.' From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States.
His concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Jan. 16, 1938, is described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music."
Goodman's bands started the careers of many jazz musicians. During an era of racial segregation, he led one of the first integrated jazz groups, his trio and quartet. He performed nearly to the end of his life while exploring an interest in classical music...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Goodman
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- Eugene Bertram Krupa (Jan. 15, 1909 – Oct. 16, 1973) was an American jazz drummer, bandleader and composer. Krupa is widely regarded as one of the most influential drummers in the history of popular music.
His drum solo on Benny Goodman's 1937 recording of "Sing, Sing, Sing" elevated the role of the drummer from an accompanist to an important solo voice in the band.
In collaboration with the Slingerland drum and Zildjian cymbal manufacturers, he was a major force in defining the standard band drummer's kit. Krupa is considered "the founding father of the modern drumset" by Modern Drummer magazine.
Upon his death, The New York Times labeled Krupa a "revolutionary" known for "frenzied, flashy" drumming, with his work having generated a significant musical legacy that started "in jazz and has continued on through the rock era."...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Krupa
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- Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947, but shortly after he reorganized and was active again with his band from then until his death in 1983. He was especially known among musicians for his technical proficiency as well as his tone, and was influential on new trumpet players from the late 1930s into the 1940s. He was also an actor in a number of films that usually featured his band.
Harry James was born in Albany, Georgia, United States, the son of Everett Robert James, a bandleader in a traveling circus, the Mighty Haag Circus, and Myrtle Maybelle (Stewart), an acrobat and horseback rider. He started performing with the circus at an early age, first as a contortionist at the age of four, then playing the snare drum in the band from about the age of six...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_James

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Boy Oh Boy, Did My Dad Love This Song

He adored Krupa, too.
I probably first heard this song when I was 3 or 4!

[appalachiablue]

2. That's great, you had a cool dad too. My mom

danced to the bands of Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman, live at college, 1937-41. I wonder if Krupa and James played at those events. Maybe; wish I had asked her.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Funny You Say That

Because, in adulthood, especially during his Army term & in the 50s, he was a gigantic "cool jazz" fan.
He must have been so cool he needed cool music!

[appalachiablue]

4. I get it! Hip dad, awesome. My dad was fairly cool, and

quite tolerant in the 60s and 70s, and when I was blasting the Doors or Hendrix on the record player.

He had a respect for tradition and authority but also appreciated music, comedy classics and liked to party, some. He bought the records of Ricky Nelson, Elvis and other popular groups for us to rock to when we were little.

Cool dads are the best.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Back At Ya!

Alas, my dad died at 69. He retired at 67. Was sick for a year.
After seeing the crummy hand he got dealt, I was even more motivated to retire early.
He did appreciate how good my bands were, even though it wasn't his kind if music. And, he really encouraged the Hass piano thing when I was a kid.
Seeing posts like your OP with songs my dad loved makes me feel good.
Thanks!