Krupa, Hampton Sessions Paved Career Path For Island Jazz Festival Founder Les DeMerle
In the early 1960s when Amelia Island resident Les DeMerle’s dad took him to see Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton and other musical greats at New York City’s Metropole Cafe, the corner of Manhattan’s 48th Street and Broadway, those visits were major factor’s in the then young teenager’s decision to made music a career.