Buddy Rich

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Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30 1917 – April 2 1987) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuostic technique, power, speed and ability to improvise.

He was born to Jewish parents in Brooklyn, New York on September 30, 1917. It was his father who initially realized Buddy's talent for rhythm, when Buddy could keep a steady beat with a drumstick at the age of one. He began playing drums in vaudeville when he was 18 months old, billed as "Traps the Drum Wonder". At the peak of Rich's childhood career, he was the second-highest paid child entertainer in the world. At 11 he was performing as a bandleader. He received no formal drum instruction and, in fact, denounced all instruction (believing it would actually degrade his gift for music). And he never engaged in practicing drums, stating that all the practice he needed, he derived by his performances. Though he was considered among the most original and creative drummers with few peers, he has been quoted as expressing great admiration for and drawing influence from the playing of Chick Webb, Gene Krupa, and Jo Jones, among a few others.

Buddy Rich performing

In 1937 he entered jazz with Joe Marsala's group, then played with Bunny Berigan (1938), Artie Shaw (1939), Tommy Dorsey (1939–1942, 1945, 1954–1955), Benny Carter (1942), Harry James (1953–1956), Les Brown, Charlie Ventura, and Jazz at the Philharmonic, as well as leading his own band and performing with all-star groups. For most of the period from 1966 until his death, he led a successful big band in an era when the popularity of big bands had waned from its peak in the 1930s and 40s. His most popular performance was a big band arrangement of West Side Story. His version of The Beat Goes On (originally by Sonny and Cher) with Rich's then 12 years old daughter Cathy was also remarkable. Though Buddy was typically a helpful and friendly man, he was also known to have a short temper. In many instances, he took advantage of the fact he was so highly respected. He threatened to fire band members many times. However, he rarely actually did.

Buddy Rich died April 2, 1987. Reportedly, among his last words prior to surgery when asked by a nurse if anything was bothering him were, "Yes ... country music!" He is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Samples

[Download sample] of "I'll Never Be the Same" by Rich and Lionel Hampton
[Several videos of Buddy]
[Buddy drums with Animal from The Muppet Show]

External links

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