Karl H. Kiffe, 76, of Las Vegas, passed away May 10, 2004. He was born July 6, 1927, in Los Angeles, and was a resident of Las Vegas for 44 years. Karl Kiffe, drummer and percussionist, was one of the many great jazz musicians who helped put Las Vegas on the map. In Los Angeles, at age 14, he won the semi-finals for the Gene Krupa Contest and at 16, became the leader of "The Hollywood Canteen Kids" band. He and the band played "Hawaiian War Chant" in Jane Powell's first movie, "Song of the Open Road." Other movies followed. He played for Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman and many other swing bands. He sat in with Gene Krupa's band and several times for Buddy Rich. One night in NYC at "Charlie's Tavern", Dizzy Gillespie asked him to sit in with him and Charlie Parker. He was influenced by Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich and Jo Jones. In Vegas during the 60's and early 70's, he played most of the big hotels and night clubs. He played for singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Andy Williams, Dinah Shore and Wayne Newton.
Short Autobiography, Karl Kiffe: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ED9YChLQuTvc_nvfrZu4PJamL6BiXLc_f8zTKRRvrmE/edit?usp=sharing
When he banged the drums so skillfully in "Youth Aflame," he was the rare creature: a teenager playing a teenager! Only 15 years old when the film was shot in 1942 and 17 when it was released in 1944, Karl Kiffe was actually a high school kid when pretending to be a high school kid. That doesn't make him unique but it does make him special.
Karl H. Kiffe, 76, of Las Vegas, passed away May 10, 2004. He was born July 6, 1927, in Los Angeles, and was a resident of Las Vegas for 44 years. Karl Kiffe, drummer and percussionist, was one of the many great jazz musicians who helped put Las Vegas on the map. In Los Angeles, at age 14, he won the semi-finals for the Gene Krupa Contest and at 16, became the leader of "The Hollywood Canteen Kids" band. He and the band played "Hawaiian War Chant" in Jane Powell's first movie, "Song of the Open Road." Other movies followed. He played for Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman and many other swing bands. He sat in with Gene Krupa's band and several times for Buddy Rich. One night in NYC at "Charlie's Tavern", Dizzy Gillespie asked him to sit in with him and Charlie Parker. He was influenced by Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich and Jo Jones. In Vegas during the 60's and early 70's, he played most of the big hotels and night clubs. He played for singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Andy Williams, Dinah Shore and Wayne Newton.
ReplyDeleteShort Autobiography, Karl Kiffe: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ED9YChLQuTvc_nvfrZu4PJamL6BiXLc_f8zTKRRvrmE/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you so much for filling in some details about Karl Kiffe. I have updated the dates.
DeleteYou're welcome! Keep up the good work!
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When he banged the drums so skillfully in "Youth Aflame," he was the rare creature: a teenager playing a teenager! Only 15 years old when the film was shot in 1942 and 17 when it was released in 1944, Karl Kiffe was actually a high school kid when pretending to be a high school kid. That doesn't make him unique but it does make him special.
ReplyDeletei GREW UP WITH kARL. PLAYED SAX AND ENDED UP AS A STUDIO MUSICIAN. RONNIE LANG
DeleteRonnie, did you ever appear on a film with Les Brown?
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