Keg Purnell

An excellent swing-era drummer, Keg Purnell was a very important if underrated accompanist. Purnell went to West Virginia Condition University from 1932-34, using the Campus Revellers. He toured using the declining Ruler Oliver (1934-35), freelanced, led his very own trio, used the youthful Thelonious Monk in 1939 and got stints using the big rings of Benny Carter (1939-40) and Claude Hopkins (1941-42). Purnell proved helpful steadily with the favorite Eddie Heywood Sextet on / off from 1942-52, also producing recordings with Rex Stewart, Teddy Wilson and Willie “The Lion” Smith (1953). Afterwards in his profession, Purnell (who was simply influenced by Chick Webb also to a lesser degree Big Sid Catlett) was a part of Snub Mosley’s group (beginning in 1957). Purnell by no means led a documenting day of his personal but made an appearance on many during his primary years being a sideman.