Keg Purnell
American drummer
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The basics
Quick Facts
| Intro | American drummer | |
| Places | United States of America | |
| was | Jazz musician Drummer | |
| Work field | Music | |
| Gender |
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| Genres: | Jazz | |
| Instruments: | Drum kit | |
| Profiles |  | |
| Birth | 7 January 1915, Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA | |
| Death | 25 June 1965New York, New York, USA (aged 50 years) | |
| Star sign | Capricorn |
The details
Biography
William "Keg" Purnell (January 7, 1915 - June 25, 1965) was an American drummer. His influences include Chick Webb and Big Sid Catlett.
Purnell was born in Charleston, West Virginia in 1915. He studied at West Virginia State College from 1932 to 1934, and played with the Campus Revellers while there. He toured with King Oliver in 1934–35, then played freelance and with his own trio in the late 1930s. In 1939, he worked with Thelonious Monk.
Purnell played in the bands of Benny Carter (1939–41), Claude Hopkins (1941-42), and Eddie Heywood (1942–52). He also recorded with Rex Stewart, Teddy Wilson, and Willie "The Lion" Smith. Late in his career he played with Snub Mosley (1957 and subsequently).