The Fire Ant Gazette - A Midland, Texas Blog

Sing Cubed is Not Square
Category: Music...
Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 11:29 AM [GMT-6]

In response to this week's Random Thursday post, Jeff parted the greasewood and mesquite enough to reveal the kind of serendipitous rabbit trail that, for me, is an entirely sufficient reason to keep blogging, by pointing to the following YouTube video showing an excerpt from Benny Goodman's band 1937 performance of Sing, Sing, Sing:

I watch this clip and, frankly, can't think of a better job than being one of the sax players sitting behind Goodman during his solo. What a gig!

That's Gene Krupa on drums. For you kidwinks who never heard of him, Krupa was likely the first drummer to combine flair and skill and get a showcase in a commercially successful band. He and another somewhat skillful (ha!) drummer named Buddy Rich used to do the dueling drummer thing, much to the delight of audiences. Here's an excerpt from a 1956 interview of both men. It's fascinating reading, especially the part where Rich takes on the so-called "cool music" of the day, and the way he felt it excluded musicians of his ilk:

I have a definite and very set opinions about the so-called modern school of music and drummers. Whereas in the days when it was necessary to swing a band, where a drummer had to be a powerhouse, today more or less the "cool school" has taken over, and I don't believe there's such a thing as a "cool drummer." You either swing a band or don't swing a band and that's what's lacking today. There aren't any guys who get back there and play with any kind of guts. And I like a heavyweight. I'm not a flyweight. I like-in my fighting, I like heavyweights and in my music I like emotionally good, strong heavyweight type of jazz. And it's just lacking today.

And speaking of their drum battles, here's another YouTube clip of one that was broadcast on the Sammy Davis, Jr. show in 1966. The tune will be recognizable, I think:

Getting back to the original topic, Wikipedia has a pretty good writeup on the history of Sing, Sing, Sing.

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Comments

Goosebumps. They just don't make 'em quite like that anymore. Wow!

Posted by: gwynne at October 25, 2007 08:11 PM

That is amazing. Simply. Freaking. Amazing.

I loved it.

Thanks, Eric.

Posted by: Janie at October 26, 2007 12:03 AM

I realize that YouTube houses a lot of trash, but the accessible preservation of clips like these is simply priceless, from a cultural historical perspective.

I got a kick out of seeing Sammy Davis, Jr. in the background of the drummer duel video.

Posted by: Eric at October 26, 2007 08:50 AM

Yeah. I wonder what the shoe deal was about. He was always such a neat guy - what a personality!

Posted by: Janie at October 26, 2007 12:02 PM

I wondered that too. Did Sammy give his shoes to just anyone? Who wants someone's smelly old shoes? Maybe this was meant as a sign of respect?

Posted by: gwynne at October 26, 2007 05:41 PM

And you probably didn't know that Gene Krupa's first cousin Eddie Krupa was a longtime Midland resident....and friend of my Dad. Eddie had been a ball turret gunner on a B-17 while cousin Gene was drummin' along.

Posted by: Wallace at October 28, 2007 10:53 AM

Sammy Davis was a dancer, I wonder if the shoes thing was a statement showing those guys Sammy wasn't worth being on the same stage with them?
Music like that never goes out of style. I was in a show band in college that played the same style of music. We had some guys that were great musicians while guys like me were filler.

Posted by: Jon at October 28, 2007 01:43 PM

thank you for this post. Made my day, they just don't do it like that anymore. again thanks.
scott e.

Posted by: scotte at October 28, 2007 03:04 PM

I think Jon's onto something with his explanation of SDJ's bestowing of the shoes, although I can't prove it. It was a symbol of respect.

Scotte, as I pointed out, Jeff McDonald actually found the Benny Goodman video, and I stumbled onto the other one after watching it. But, I'm glad you and other enjoyed the post. You're right; those were some special moments.

Posted by: Eric at October 28, 2007 08:48 PM

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