Karl Kiffe | |
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Birth name | Karl Herman Kiffe |
Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | July 6, 1927
Died | May 10, 2004 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | (aged 76)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Drums |
Years active | 1942–1994[1][2] |
Karl Kiffe (July 6, 1925 – May 10, 2004) was an American jazz drummer featured in specialty numbers in a number of Hollywood feature films during World War II and later as a featured member of Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra.
Born in Los Angeles, Kiffe first attracted attention as winner of the annual Gene Krupa Contest in 1943.[3] Succeeding Chuck Falkner as leader of the Hollywood Canteen Kids,[4] Kiffe was featured in novelty numbers in several feature films before working as a single in Ken Murray's Blackouts. In July 1945 he was hired by Jimmy Dorsey, with whom he worked for about a year, and then again from July 1950 through February '53.[3] Over the next decade, Kiffe worked with, among others, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo and Woody Herman,[3] as well as singers Andy Williams,[5] June Christy,[3] and Ella Fitzgerald.[6]
Speaking in 1946, when asked which drummer he most admired, Kiffe cited the solos of Buddy Rich, while praising the big band work of Don Lamond and Jo Jones.[7]
In 1958, Kiffe married Carol Jean Beall in Las Vegas. They had two children.[8][9] He was also a great friends of the musician and saxophonist Warne Marsh.
Autobiography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cx1QjSAnwCIm3G4eWqoOzI_LQmDoFeXivfXkORfsBaY/edit?usp=sharing
With Jimmy Dorsey
With others