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1958-59 SLINGERLAND RADIO KING

DRUMS:
22x14" Radio King Bass Drum - Chicago badge - Stamped May 27 ??
13x9" Radio King Tom Tom - Stamped Jun 11 1958
16x16" Radio King Floor Tom

The shells are 3 ply mahogany-poplar-mahogany with maple re-rings.
One Chicago, Illinois owner until he passed on and the kit was in an estate sale, purchased and sold in late 2013 to Ireland.
Purchased by myself 26th February 2015

1958 SLINGERLAND GENE KRUPA MODEL RADIO KING SNARE
14 x 5.5" - Chicago badge
8 Lug Maple Shell, Rim-Shot Counterhoops with Radio King 3-point Strainer and extended snare brackets.

Previous owner in Dover, Delaware had it stored since 1999.
Purchased by myself 23rd Feb 2016

CYMBALS:
20" 1950s Avedis Zildjian Ride Sizzle Cymbal
18" 1950s Avedis Zildjian Crash Cymbal
14" 1950s Avedis Zildjian Hi-hats
18" 1950s Zyn Paper Thin Crash Ride Cymbal (A very rare and beautifully crafted original Zyn!)
8" UFIP Splash Cymbal

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:
1940s#SP-761 S Gene Krupa 14" Cymbal Holder
1959 #599 Shell Mount Tilt Cymbal Holder (not shown)
1963 #804 Direct Pull Hi-Hat Flush Base Stand
1963 #802 Snare Stand Flush Base
1963 #938 Tempo King Bass Drum Pedal
1960s #806 Dynamo Hi-Hat Stand  (not shown)
1970s #809 Hi-Hat Tube Legs  (not shown)
1950s Cowbell

BACKGROUND:
I purchased this kit February of 2016.
I sold this kit in May of 2016 to obtain another Slingerland, a 1960 Gene Krupa Deluxe in White Marine Pearl listed HERE.

This addition to my drum collection had a totally unexpected and special impact on me. For the first time in over 50 years, I finally realized where my deep interest in drums came from.

I of course always knew the timeline of events as to how I came to play the drums, but finally, after all these years and through all of the drums that I have played and owned, only now I have realised that it was in fact the legendary Slingerland drum sound that was inbred into me from birth that that started it all!

From when I was born in 1963, I grew up to the sounds of my late father listening to big bands, swing, jazz and some of the crooners of that era and of course from earlier in his own youth.

The likes of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Woody Herman were among both my father's and grandfather's favourites, but at such a young age, sadly some of it was too intense for my young ears, although Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong I did enjoy!

However, those schooled in the history drums will of course already know this, but a major clue was always right there in front of me with each of the legendary drummers backing the jazz masters who my father was listening to;

Buddy Rich (Frank Sinatra / Louis Armstrong / Oscar Peterson)
Louie Bellson (Benny Goodman / Tommy Dorsey / Duke Ellington)
Rufus "Speedy" Jones (Duke Ellington / Count Basie)
Ray McKinley (Glenn Miller)
Jake Hanna (Woody Herman)
Gene Krupa (Benny Goodman / Tommy Dorsey)

All were playing Slingerland drums and chiefly, Radio King outfits.

How did I not realise these guys were all on Slingerlands?! Well that is in itself, another long story for another time...but needless to say, it took the sands of time to help me find the sound that I had been searching for and to help me finally explore and enjoy the music that I had not warmed too 50 years before!

Below is the legendary Gene Krupa at his kit in Toronto, Canada in 1959, the year this kit was completed.

It was early in 2016 that I finally got to play a Slingerland Gene Krupa Radio King kit courtesy of Mark Jeffs at Rusty Drums. Sadly the stunning kit that he had in stock had already been sold, but I knew it was that sound as soon as I sat at the drums, so the search was on for another!

To my surprise, I managed to locate a kit and this side of the Atlantic very soon after and naturally, to be able to find a late 1950s Gene Krupa Radio King outfit in such fine condition was a very pleasant surprise indeed, but to see a matching snare become available within days, yet 5000 or so miles away, well, I guess it was just meant to be!

I still need to add exact period matching hardware which I may do so for show only as the slightly later 1963 hardware I am currently using, is very robust, like new and very responsive to play.

Sitting among so many fine kits, that legendary Slingerland sound is sublime, inspiring and yet again, I have to thank my late father Frank for introducing it in to my life from my earliest memory.

Thanks Dad. x

If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.

If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.