The Master of DrumsBy: Elizabeth J. Rosenthal A substantial and engaging biography that contributes significantly to the history of jazz in the United States. Library Journal The first definitive biography of Gene Krupa, the most famous drummer on the planet, whose feverish rhythms defined the Swing Era, changed jazz music forever, spurred rock and roll, and influenced generations. From the early 1930s onward, Gene Krupa was a drum centric rarity in the jazz world.