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Buddy Rich

When it came to technique, speed, power, and the ability to put together incredible drum solos, Buddy Rich lived up to the billing of "the world's greatest drummer." Although some other drummers were more innovative, in reality none were in his league even during the early days. A genius, Buddy Rich started playing drums in vaudeville as "Traps, the Drum Wonder" when he was only 18 months old; he was completely self-taught. Rich performed in vaudeville throughout his childhood and developed into a decent singer and a fine tap dancer. But drumming was his purpose in life, and by 1938 he had discovered jazz and was playing with Joe Marsala's combo. Rich was soon propelling Bunny Berigan's orchestra, he spent most of 1939 with Artie Shaw (at a time when the clarinetist had the most popular band in swing), and then from 1939-1945 (except for a stint in the military) he was making history with Tommy Dorsey. During this era it became obvious that Buddy Rich was the king of drummers, easily dethroning his friend Gene Krupa. Rich had a bop-ish band during 1945-1947 that did not catch on, toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic, recorded with a countless number of all-stars in the 1950s for Verve (including Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Art Tatum, and Lionel Hampton), and worked with Les Brown, Charlie Ventura, Tommy Dorsey (1954-1955), and Harry James (off and on during 1953-1966). A heart attack in 1959 only slowed him down briefly and, although he contemplated becoming a full-time vocalist, Rich never gave up the drums.

In 1966, Buddy Rich beat the odds and put together a successful big band that would be his main outlet for his final 20 years. His heart began giving him trouble starting in 1983, but Rich never gave his music less than 100 percent and was still pushing himself at the end. A perfectionist who expected the same from his sidemen (some of whom he treated cruelly), Buddy Rich is definitively documented in Mel Tormé's book Traps the Drum Wonder. His incredible playing can be viewed on several readily available videotapes, although surprisingly few of his later big band albums have been made available yet on CD. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
full bio

Selected Discography

Comments

saintzachy
drummingdude 9

Did you seriously just compare Buddy Rich to Rob Bourdon?????
The guy wasn't even a stain in his mothers alternative rock undies when Buddy rich was working on his 43rd project , there's no way in hell you can even....just . . . r e a l l y man? ._.
saintzachy
I came here to listen to and read about one of the greatest drummers to have ever lived. Period. Not hear about his drama. His personal life and his musical career (Given they DO go hand in hand) can not be compared, what he did for the Jazz/ Drumming community is worth so much more than what he did wrong by his band mates, its hard enough to follow up something like a solo of his, let alone keep up with him on stage. He demanded excellence, after all, he was REQUESTED for most of his bands no?
Buddy was one of a kind. I don't k now how many times I made a point of getting out to see the band live. He knew he was good and expected his band members to perform. He was able to put some great bands together. I never saw a drummer who could out drum him. He never seemed to either. RIP we miss you Buddy.
myerspercuss i o n
Every once in a while the Lord bestows unworldly talent in an individual. We can only look on in disbelief. Michelangelo . Shakespeare. Beethoven. Bernstein. Mahler. DaVinci. I would add Buddy Rich to that list. His speed, power, artistry and precision (never wasted a single note) were impeccable and unequalled. Only Joe Morello had more musicianship . In comparison, today's drummers need mammoth, inverted sets to make up for talent. Listen to A NIGHT IN TUNESIA for best solo EVER
You have to be that jerk if you want to succeed and be the best the drummer is the key to all music and I don't know about anyone else but if my name is on the product I better be getting 110% from the people that I hire
Outwardly, yes, perhaps he was a demanding jerk at times. He gave a 100% and he expected nothing less in return. He did not suffer fools. But many members of his band can attest to his behind-the-s c e n e s benevolence and generosity - not to mention their paychecks still came first during lean times.
troberts00
so he was a jerk, Bing Crosby beat his kids and Frank Sinatra was an ego freak. How many big talent guys weren't a jerk in some way? And when you drive for absolute perfection, you can come across as an arse
So big talent allows one to treat others with disrespect ....what a d i c k
HE WAS A WISE GUY AND A JERK ,BUT THE BEST I'VE EVER HEARD.
Anybody who compares Linkin Park's drummer to Buddy Rich is an obvious retard if anything drummers now a days got inspired by what Buddy Rich has done
wdlampert3
Love the bass!
I saw him play live about six times. Each time I sat in awe wondering how he did what he did. No one played drums like Buddy.
The best Drummer in the World Alive or Dead He was the best !!!
All comments are true. He was a four star A-hole. And he drove the best big band for decades.
There is a difference between style and skill. when they collide, you get music, and that's what this is.
To my ears, Buddy had the most exciting big band of all time. I love so many big bands, but Buddy's groups in the 60s-80s will always be my favorites.
gfplayer
The only instrumental i s t s driven as hard as a drummer are in the trumpet section. Playing lead is all attitude. Technique is nice, but you gotta wanna lead the band!
Perfection with an attitude !!!
He came to our high school in manchester n.h.(west high)Back in the mid 70's,To play in our gymnasium.Th e place was full of kids to see him,myself included.Whe n he walked in,he "claimed it was to noisy"Then walked out.I don't care how great he was.He' was a jerk,and a bad person.None of us new about his crazy personality until much later in our lives!No role model should ever be able to act like that!
Dear Drummingdude 9 : Is Linkin Park a drummer who I never heard of?? Any REAL drummingdude knows there is no comparison between Rich and ANYBODY.
Gene Krupa was once asked who was the greatest drummer and he replied.." I am....and then there is Buddy" Even Krupa knew that Rich was the greatest then and probably for all time.
just good drummin'
He had kick-a** young players with him in his later years. He was difficult but his technique was outstanding.
Saw him twice as a kid with my parents in the 70's. Unbelievable drummer with flawless technique, but lived up to his reputation of being an A-hole. My father tried to introduce me ( I was about 12y/o and a drummer ) to Buddy when he was taking a break and he basically just brushed us off!. I met Louis Bellson a couple of years later and he was the most genuine nice guy....and also had unbelievable talent.
HEY mtneumann... . . . o f Course Herbie did it first he WROTE it!
Also a very funny man, his wit always requiring a victim. Remember him on Johnny Carson (a great jazz fan), skewering him like a hip Don Rickles.
If I remember he was with Stan Kenton. He had some wild beats and rem.. A great drummer..... B i l l Saw them in person around 1950. Bill Boucher
i shat my self i thought herbie hancock did chameleon first. I was wrong. Glad to find out who buddy rich was. awsome
No one matched his hard driving metronomic rhythms. He also had great personnel in his bands including great brass, Lin Biviano, Lyn Nichols, etc.
bodeenm
I saw him in Memphis...2 shows... he was great..10... b u c k s a session He was incrediable. . . g r e a t expiernce
I liked his brother Richie better?
He's ok. I think Linkin Park was a better guy though at drums.
drumminphil2 5
Buddy is legendary. He was what drumming is all about....pas s i o n and groove.
Buddy and his cast of virtuoso musicians assembled for one mind blowing experience.. . O h how we suffered when they were no longer around. Replaced by a bunch of shouting four cord guitar players and one damn good drummer...th e m we could have done without believe me.
Buddy Rich vs. Animal on youtube - classic!
As Krupa said about his colleague and friend BR, "the greatest drummer to ever draw breath." And thank God for YouTube....t o be able to share Buddy's music visually too to a new audience and to see the Master is both inspirationa l and humbling. This guy was human?
polingkf
The excellence that Rich surrounded himself is testimony to the security he felt as the preeminent percussionis t of this time. His beats pounded through the emsemble, letting them shine, but never letting the listener forget it was ALL about the drummer.
This had to be the finest collection of the big band era. The level of musicianship ranks with any and all philharmonic groups in the world. I cry a little every time I contemplate the fact that several generations have been denied a chance to tap their feet to truly great offerings... a l l because of the cost of presentation . We cling dearly to orchestras preserving the classics and totally ignore this genere filled with equally gifted composers and performers.. . s h a m e on us.
I agree too that there are many many great drummers out there,but
no one comes close to Buddy.
Johnny Carson emotionally revered Buddy Rich , but , who among us Did Not !
acousticgroo v y
Watch buddy and Animal on youtube. Just search buddy rich on the muppet show.
For those of us who think that we're drummers -- WRONG ! Nobody but nobody can come close to Buddy Rich. He could sense what differeent musicians in the band were going to play before they knew it. When you think that he couldn't read music, that makes it all the more incredible. Nobody can really appreciate his talents unless they're experienced playing with big bands, with or without being able to read the charts.
I agree that were many,many great drummers during the swing and war years,Buddy
was up there with them, great talent,he was always ON...
The first thing that comes to my mind when talking about big band drummers is Buddy.I Studied for about ten years while in high school with some of the best.It was an annual affair for me to go see Buddy at Disneyland (The Carnation Gardens)wher e all the local muscians from the area gathered to see the master.Back then you could get real close and check out things like his right foot,finger control and the like!This was in the era of "Big Swing Face",and "Swingin New Big Band"."West Side Story"
mdmitch42
Buddy - From the world of big band playing and soloing as he did,he most certainly set a standard of playing that was so unique from any era and/or genre. I was inspired to play drums from childhood after listening and watching him play on the Mike Douglas show in 1966. I have been attempting to play for over forty years and have been enjoying every minute, due to this great musician.mdm
dwvn54
Neil Peart is more musical, Virgil Donati is more technical, Dave Weckl has more groove. Buddy was great, but with so many fantastic drummers out there, no one could be called the absolute best.
Buddy - the one and only one and no other one can come close to mastering the art of playing drums.I've seen him in the 70's at a jazz club in boston and then in the 80's in Tampa at a high school jazz show - no one can come close to being him and no one should - thank you buddy for inspirirng me to play drums for 42 years and still going. luv ya buddy. cool dude!!!
OF COURSE ANYONE THAT KNOWS JAZZ DRUMMING OR JUST KNOW OF GOOD DRUMMERS BUDDY RICH MUST COME UP BECAUSE HE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST! MIKE.

abitger akk tune favirute, i love this web

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