Swing was the thing

Burlington Township resident Elizabeth Rosenthal wasn’t your average child growing up.

While everyone else was listening to what became known as classic rock, she somehow became obsessed with the big band music of the 1930s and ’40s, as well as movies of the period.

Rosenthal started off listening to Benny Goodman, who was often referred to as the king of swing and whose music she heard in TV commercials. His albums led her to Goodman’s drummer and bandleader, Gene Krupa, who was with the band for four years in the ’30s.

When Rosenthal first heard the recording of the Benny Goodman orchestra’s historic Carnegie Hall concert in 1938, she was completely mind blown by what she heard from Krupa. It was something she couldn’t get over.

“My head exploded,” she recalled. “It sounded different from anything I had ever heard before, and so he became my favorite drummer of all time … One way of putting it when I hear him play is, ‘Wow.’ I feel inspired, excited and I’ve noticed how unique his playing was and how his personality came out in his drumming …

“It just gets me going and makes me happy.”

Rosenthal had an epiphany in 2018 that led her to write, “The Master of Drums: Gene Krupa and The Music He Gave the World,” a definitive biography of the drummer whose feverish rhythms defined the Swing Era, changed jazz music forever, spurred rock and roll and influenced generations.

Rosenthal’s book recounts Krupa’s exploits, challenges and accomplishments, while framing him against not just his fellow musicians and peers, but the music industry and general culture. The publication has also been nominated for the Jazz Journalists Association’s book award.

“He inspired boys of the time – the ’30s and ’40s – to take up drums because he was it, he was the guy,” Rosenthal noted of her subject. “He was a very, very exciting performer. He was a really great drummer, but he was very arresting to see in person … He wasn’t intentionally trying to show off, he was just very involved in the music and literally felt every beat.

“Every beat was extremely important to him, and that came out in his playing.”

Rosenthal joined the Historical Society of Moorestown 10 years ago after retiring from her state job. She was looking for something to do and decided to call historical societies to see where she could volunteer. When she contacted Moorestown’s group, trustee Stephanie Herz answered the phone, and the rest – as Rosenthal says – is history.

Today, Rosenthal is the historical society’s publicist and recording secretary, but also handles old documents, some 60 to 80 years old.

“Whatever it’s about, I just love it,” she explained, adding that she’s more into American history, specifically the eras of the Great Depression and World War II. “I just love thinking about people … The documents or letters, they just bring everything alive again, and I think about how life was then, and it really is something that is fascinating. I don’t know how else to put it.

“Even though I don’t live in Moorestown,” she added, “I love Moorestown. How could you not? It’s a place where you do things and spend time and everybody has always been so welcoming to me, and the subject matter is great. It’s just become such a great place.”

Rosenthal will speak about her Krupa biography at the township library on Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m. She will be joined by Moorestown’s Steve Pappaterra, who will demonstrate some of the techniques and styles pioneered by Krupa. Pappaterra began playing drums professionally at 17 as a member of The Lamplighters, an 18-piece big band modeled after the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

After performing more than 450 times over four years, Pappaterra went on to perform with numerous big bands, including the City Rhythm Orchestra and the Upfront Big Band, as well as on cruise engagements with the Al Raymond Orchestra.

To attend the library program, register at https://events.moorestownlibrary.org/event/16211128.