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 — especially on the hit "Sing, Sing, Sing" — 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.
Tea For Two
Gene Krupa Lyrics
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Just tea for two and two for tea,
Just me for you
And you for me alone.
Nobody near us
To see us or hear us,
No friends or relations
We won't have it known, dear,
That we own a telephone, dear;
Day will break and you'll awake
And start to bake a sugar cake,
For me to take
For all the boys to see.
We will raise a family,
A boy for you, a girl for me.
Oh, can't you see
How happy we would be?
In Gene Krupa's song Tea For Two, the singer imagines a romantic scene with a loved one. He pictures himself and his partner sitting close together, drinking tea and enjoying each other's company. The two of them are completely alone, with nobody around to witness their love. They don't even have a phone, so nobody can interrupt their idyllic, private moment. The singer paints a picture of domestic bliss, imagining his partner waking up early to bake a cake for him to take to his friends, and the two of them eventually starting a family with a boy and a girl. The song's lyrics express a longing for a simple, happy life with the one you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Picture you upon my knee,
Imagine you sitting on my lap,
Just tea for two and two for tea,
There are only two of us, and we will drink tea together,
Just me for you
I am yours alone,
And you for me alone.
You belong to me only,
Nobody near us
There is no one close to us,
To see us or hear us,
No one can watch or listen to us,
No friends or relations
We are not with friends or family,
On weekend vacations.
We're not on vacation with anyone,
We won't have it known, dear,
We don't want people to know,
That we own a telephone, dear;
That we have a telephone,
Day will break and you'll awake
When the sun rises, you will wake up,
And start to bake a sugar cake,
You will begin baking a cake,
For me to take
For me to have,
For all the boys to see.
So everyone can see it,
We will raise a family,
We will start a family,
A boy for you, a girl for me.
We'll have a son for you and a daughter for me,
Oh can't you see
Don't you see
How happy we would be?
We would be very happy together.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rayszymarek2920
Always Dug Anita O day she had the style and man she could scat and groove with any musician. Any Big Band any small combo you name. it. Gene Krupa knew this and so did Stan Kenton and a constant stream of super great musicians. God Bless the Legend Anita O day. always remembered