Many consider Krupa to be one of the most influential drummers of the 20th century, particularly regarding the development of the drum kit. Many jazz historians believe he made history in 1927 as the first kit drummer ever to record using a bass drum pedal. His drum method was published in 1938 and immediately became the standard text. He is also credited with inventing the rim shot on the snare drum. Rhythm, the UK's best selling drum magazine voted Gene Krupa the third most influential drummer ever, in a poll conducted for its February 2009 issue. Voters included over 50 top-name drummers
Krupa was born Eugene Bertram Krupa to Polish parents in Chicago, Illinois. He began playing professionally in the mid 1920s with bands in Wisconsin. He broke into the Chicago scene in 1927, when he was picked by MCA to become a member of "Thelma Terry and Her Playboys", the first notable American Jazz band (outside of all-girl bands) to be led by a female musician. The Playboys were the house band at The Golden Pumpkin nightclub in Chicago and also toured extensively throughout the eastern and central United States.
Krupa made his first recordings in 1927, with a band under the leadership of banjoist Eddie Condon and "fixer" (and sometime singer, who did not appear on the records), Red McKenzie: along with other recordings beginning in 1924 by musicians known in the "Chicago" scene such as Bix Beiderbecke, these sides are examples of white "Chicago Style" jazz. The numbers recorded at that session were: 'China Boy', 'Sugar', 'Nobody's Sweetheart' and 'Liza'. The McKenzie - Condon sides are also notable for being the first records to feature a full drum kit.
In 1929 he moved to New York City and worked with the band of Red Nichols. In 1934 he joined Benny Goodman's band, where his featured drum work β especially on the hit "Sing, Sing, Sing" β made him a national celebrity. In 1938, after a public fight with Goodman at the Earl Theater in Philadelphia, he left Goodman to launch his own band and had several hits with singer Anita O'Day and trumpeter Roy Eldridge. Krupa made a memorable cameo appearance in the 1941 film Ball of Fire, in which he and his band performed an extended version of the hit Drum Boogie.
It's Been A Long Long Time
Gene Krupa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
standing here so close to me
there's so much I feel that I should say
but words can wait until some other day
Kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
Since I can't remember when
It's been a long, long time
You'll never know how many dreams
I've dreamed about you
Or just how empty they all seemed without you
So kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
Ah, kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long time
Haven't felt like this my dear
Since I can't remember when
It's been a long, long time
You'll never know how many dreams
I dreamed about you
Or just how empty they all seemed without you
So kiss me once then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
Long, long time
Extra credits added by Robin Hood
The lyrics to Gene Krupa's "It's Been A Long Long Time" tell the story of someone who never thought they would be standing so close to the person they love. There's so much they want to say but choose to wait for another day. The person then asks for a kiss once, then twice, and again, as it's been a long time since they felt this way. They express how many dreams they've had of the person they're with and how empty they felt without them. Ultimately, they ask for more kisses and express their joy in finally being reunited with their loved one after such a long time.
The lyrics suggest the emotional depth of the song, as it is about two people who have been separated for a long time and are now finally reunited. It also shows the power of affection and how it can make someone feel alive again. The words express nostalgia and longing for what was lost, while the kisses provide a sense of renewal and hope for the future. These feelings are accentuated by the slow, romantic melody of the song and the soft, mellow tones of the singer's voice.
Line by Line Meaning
Never thought that you would be standing here so close to me
I never expected you to be standing so close to me.
there's so much I feel that I should say but words can wait until some other day
There are many things I want to say, but I'll keep them for another day.
Kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Please kiss me twice, my love.
Then kiss me once again
And then kiss me once more.
It's been a long, long time
It has been a very long time since I've felt this way.
Haven't felt like this, my dear
I haven't felt this way, my love.
Since I can't remember when
I can't even remember the last time I felt this way.
You'll never know how many dreams I've dreamed about you
You'll never know how many dreams I've had about you.
Or just how empty they all seemed without you
Those dreams all felt empty without you.
So kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Please kiss me twice, my dear.
Then kiss me once again
And then kiss me one more time.
It's been a long, long time
It has been such a long time since I've felt this way.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@j.s.connolly8579
YES! YES and HELL YES! Gene IS, WAS and ALWAYS WILL BE the "GRANDFATHER" Of ROCK and PROGRESSIVE DRUMMING!
Watch Gene's face... you can SEE he is like... HUMMING the tune in his head as he plays! JUST FREAKIN' AMAZING!
One of my ALL TIME Drumming Inspirations!
On a person "Family Note"... My uncle "Buster/Joe" was a drummer and met and got to be friends with Gene during the USO tours during WWII. And when my uncle came home from the war, He took my dad to this place in Milwaukee called "The Eagles Club" to see his "Friend from the War's Band Play"... and it was NONE OTHER then Gene Himself!
My dad was just BLOWN AWAY! Especially when Gene had my uncle come up and play a few tunes with the band!
They remained good, close, friends until my uncle passed away when I was a baby in 1967 or 68.
But I remember my uncle playing on my crib with drum sticks and my mom said I always smiled at him when he did it! He and my Grandfather are my "Nake Sakes"! :D
No wonder I became a drummer and have been now for over 43 yrs!
Thanks Uncle Buster and Gene for the Inspiration! You BOTH are never Forgotten! :D
@daleloyola932
I was 11 years old when I saw this performance. I decided then and there I wanted to play the drums. Now 64 years later I'm still jamming! GO ,Gene, GO!
@ibleebinU
I got bit by the drumming bug when I was around 9. I was forever air drumming to anything with drums in it. Now 66 and still playing whether it be pop, jazz, blues, big band or anything that feels good.
@j.s.connolly8579
YEP! For ME it was seeing "Neil Peart" and "RUSH" open for KISS in 1975. I was ten. Our oldest/only brother took my sister and I to see our FAV band "KISS" for our birthdays... but it was the OPENING Band... RUSH that gave me the "Drumming Bug"!
THEN I got to see and MET Buddy Rich when I was 13 in middle school! THAT Summer... one hot Saturday afternoon when Mom and Dad went to the store to get flowers and plants for the garden. I stayed home and was listening to a local Rock station on the stereo with the volume CRANKED and a RUSH Song came on... and I decided that I HAD to go down to the basement and get on my brother's vintage 68/69 Red Sparkle "Ludwig" kit and try to play to it?!
I realized two things that day... ONE... Drumming is ALOT HARDER then It MIGHT Look or then I thought! And TWO...I was FOREVER Changed and wanted to be a drummer!
Now 43 yrs. later I'm STILL a Progressive Rock Drummer! :D No band at the present... but STILL Jammin'! :D
@dorianward4909
What do you think of Bonham and Peart? And for shyts and giggles, have you seen the vid of the grandma doing βDisturbed, down with the sicknessβ and β in the deer tonightβ ? Both fun vids. p.s. the deer could have walked around. Rock on
@cmc8375
Yay! I first saw the film The Gene Krupa Story when I was about 10, although Sal Mineo played Gene in the film, and had to learn to play drums first, it got me totally obsessed with drums and percussion. I only got a full drum kit a few years back. Before that I had small, portable drums which I used when belly dancing, and a pair of drumsticks, which I used on the kitchen countertops and pots and pans! ππ€£ππ€
@dannolson6661
I played sax and some jazz clarinet when I was younger. Couldn't keep up with Benny or Pete Fountain! I tried!
@robertgosselin14
Krupaβs timing is impeccable. His drumsticks seem to glide at times across his set. An absolute iconic master drummer.
@brotherlove9374
Somebody, quick, get the cops here . . . . Gene murdering those drums . . .
@bkrbyex4339
He was even an inspiration for a young John Bonham...who later developed his drumming skills, long before he was recruited to join "the new Yardbirds,"....(later renamed "Led Zeppelin")
@c.anderson3444
That is alot...and with no drugs?