Gene Krupa was born on January 15, 1909 in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up to become best known for swing and big band music. He spent much of his musical career as a band leader and favored the drums. His career, like that of many other well-known musicians before and after him, began early in his life.

Gene made some of his first recordings before he turned twenty when he was part of Eddie Condon's band. From there, his reputation and career grew. He continued to play with many other bands, created his own band, led trios and quartets and continued to play until he passed away in 1973.

The first band that Gene Krupa played with was the Thelma Terry band in 1927. The same year, he made some of his first recordings with Eddie Condon's band and then made more recordings in 1928 with Thelma Terry's band. In 1929, he joined the Red Nichols band and then became a part of Benny Goodman's band in 1934. It was in 1938 when he left the Benny Goodman band to create his own band.

Besides his music and his influence as a drummer, he can be credited with the invention of many of the modern pieces now included in a standard drum kit. It is believed that he invented the rim shot on the snare drum, the tom-toms that could be tuned, which was the first to record using a bass drum pedal. His method of drumming was published and used as a standard.

As far as his influence in the music scene is considered, he was the inspiration for Keith Moon, Peter Crisis and John Bonham among many other musicians who have said that Gene Krupa was their inspiration.

By the end of his career, Gene Krupa was the first drummer ever to be inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame, five years after his death in 1973.

He had a long musical career that had an incredible influence on many future musicians who are well-known today. His innovation in the instrument he played and the style he had, as well as the music he played, will continue to live on through many years. Even after his death, many enjoy his playing that was recorded before many were even born. New musicians today continue to be positively influenced by his playing and dream of only being half as good as a great artist like Gene Krupa.

He may have hit a few rough spots throughout his career, but these rough spots are dimmed by the talent he shared with the world. Even today he is considered to be one of the most influential drummers of the 1900s and his influence will most likely continue to affect many new musicians for generations to come. His innovation with the further development of the drum set may also influence new musicians in that no one has to play with what was used before. There is always room for improvement and always room for something new and useful.