DRUMMER'S DOWNFALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

DRUMMER'S DOWNFALL

EARNED £IOO A WEEK 4 COULD NOT LOOK AFTER. IT Ten years ago, when jazz was sweep* # ing Britain and radio brought a now form of entertainment into millions of | homes, one of the outstanding person- | alities among the dance band playen was Alec Cripps, jazz drummer. Ho first entered the limelight with the late Bert Kailton's biuid. His genius was quickly realised, and soon j he became an idol with millions of people whom he helped to enteitain A when playing with famous dance bands u in fashionable Loudon hotels, in night clubs, and on the radio. In his heyday, it is said, he earned more than £IOO a week. He lived in luxurious style. He was feted wherever he went. Then he began to fall. There was a sequel at the London Sessions when in his correct name of Alexander Cecil Cripps, aged 37, he was sentenced to eight months' hard labour for breaking into the Bed Lion public house in Great Windmill Street, West London. Few who knew Cripps when he was on top of the world would have recognised in the somewhat pathetic figure in ♦ the dock the tall, well-built, handsome jazz drummer who once was one of the most striking men in any fashionable ballroom. One of Cripp's closest friends told ao interviewer tho story of his downfall; " Alec was really a big-hearted kid, ho stated. " In his way he was a geuju® as a jazz drummer, lint unfortunately money came too easily to him and he did not know how to take care of it. "He was generous to a degree and. as usually happens in cases like this, he fell a victim to a certain set in the West End. They use the drink clubs a-" their headquarters. I know three youngsters, all in good positions, who, at the moment, are in tho same danger. - " Within a quarter of a mile radi" B of Piccadilly there are no fewer than 1860 drink clubs and more than w bottle parties. Many of them, of course, .■ j are very respectable, but some of them are dens of vice. '• • " Until the latter are cleaned up there will always be a grave danger or youngsters falling victims to the gangwhich frequent them."