Matthew:
Interesting! The name "Gene Krupa" is a very special name for me, in that I grew up in Yonkers, NY (not too far from where Gene himself lived), and my dad was very good friends with Gene. Since my dad was with the Yonkers police at the time, he watched over Gene's place while he was out of town / on tour. They got to be really close -- so much so, that he told my dad that when he (my dad) finally has a son, that he (Gene) would be delighted to be his (my) personal drum instructor.
Sadly, Gene passed away from leukemia in 1973, and I never did get those drum lessons (I was too young at the time, and anyway Gene's health had declined in the years prior to his passing). However, 1.) I did meet him several times as a kid, and 2.) I do have some 78-rpm vinyl LPs signed by Gene, and I will treasure these the rest of my life!
When I make trips back to Yonkers, I always make a point to visit the street they now named after this one-of-a-kind talent, Gene Krupa Drive.
You brought back some good memories!
-Sean