Louie Bellson Smithsonian Interview Block 169 (Q10965)

I saw him once. He was amazing, not only as a drummer, but - Gene Krupa used to say that in those days, the Savoy Ballroom was open. They used to have a battle of the bands up there. They always put Benny Goodman's band with Chick Webb's band, because Chick had Ella Fitzgerald as singer. I saw Gene Krupa one time when he was getting ready to do that. He said, "I'm going up to play opposite Chi ...