I don't know about that tour with Scott, but Gene used to sit-in with Woody Herman's orchestra several times a year at the old Metropole Cafe' in mid-town Manhattan. Myself and a couple of my buddies would stand on the sidewalk out front (we were under 18 and they served liquor so we weren't allowed to go inside,) and listen for hours. It is one of the fond memories I have of that time. Gene played New York regularly....

John

Thanks John, that's a great story :) to have listened to the great man must have been a wonderful experience. I picked up an autographed cab receipt in a shop in Vegas last week and it turns out even they didn't know who the second signatory was.

I'm going to hunt down a pair of his sticks and frame the autograph and sticks. I think he used to play Slingerlands?

Regards

Ian

Hi Ian,

Yes, Gene was a Slingerland endorser and was featured on the cover of Slingerland catalogs through the 60's. My very first catalog, from 1968, was given to me by my high school music teacher. I have fond memories of seeing the great GK on the cover and memorizing just about every page of the catalog!

As for sticks, check eBay. That's where I found mine! Some sellers are asking big bucks, so be careful!

Mark

My wife graduated from Bowen High School in Chicago. Her desk in one class room had former Bowen High student, Gene Krupa's name carved into the wood of the desk about 30 years earlier.

I played very few bar gigs in all my years of gigging. One of those few was at Krupa's Tavern. This was a corner bar in the old neighborhood where Gene Krupa was raised. His relatives ran the tavern for many years. I think that it finally went out of business not too many years ago.

Thanks so much for the story's and feedback regarding my post. I've already been in contact with a store in the US which can ship me the Slingerland sticks. Was there a specific size or code of sticks that he played? All help is very much appreciated.

Thanks from Ian in Aberdeen

jd: Gene also partnered with Cozy Cole in the early 50's to open a drum studio. My grandfather traveled by bus from NJ into Manhattan to take lessons with Cozy at their studio. Cost in Feb.1957 for a half hour: $3.75! I have signed receipts from Cozy made out to my grandfather in fountain pen for "Krupa-Cole Inc."

Happy collecting!

Hugh

Hugh-that is one great story about your grandfather and you are very fortunate to still have those historic receipts.The fact that they are still in your family is amazing and have never been lost or thown out.I love stuff like this...and best of luck to jd in his Krupa quest.

Wayne

Hugh, i totally agree with Wayne, that is one amazing story about your Grandfather. Thanks for all your input. I very much look forward to learning from you all.

Warmest regards

Ian

Hi Ian,

The GK sticks usually just say "Slingerland Gene Krupa Model" on them. I haven't measured the sticks to get a more physical description. As you can see from the attached picture, I've got two pairs of GK sticks from different time periods.

Where are you located?

Mark