BUDDY RICH - THE WORLD'S GREATEST DRUMMER?

BUDDY RICH - THE WORLD'S GREATEST DRUMMER?

I wrote this blog about BUDDY RICH a few years ago and since then I have watched many more video clips of Buddy and the band in Prague, Paris, at Disneyland and a host of other cities, which have been posted on the various Facebook group sites including the Great Drummers Group, Buddy Rich: Buddy's Lounge or Buddy Rich Road Stories - all of which you can join and enjoy some incredible material.

Johnny Carson, Buddy and Cathy Rich

Buddy also appeared many times on the NBC Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, who was not only a great friend of Buddy, but who did much to help his career, especially when he formed his big band - these TV appearances helped Buddy to reach a wide public audience across the States and Canada - many of these appearances can be found on the sites I mentioned above and also on YouTube. Buddy was simply extraordinary - his playing was a phenomenon and is essential viewing for any drummer today. 

Buddy died 36 years ago - it seems incredible to me that all those years have gone by - I still feel as though Buddy is with us today - it seems only a flash of time ago, since we all witnessed the thrill and wonder of watching Buddy and Band in concert. I think that those concerts were the greatest moments of my musical life certainly as a producer - I have been incredibly privileged to work with so many great artists, hundreds of concerts over the years  - I've loved these wonderful artists and their amazing talents, but NOTHING has ever (for me personally) compared to seeing BUDDY in full flight.

Please check out the Facebook sites I mentioned - you will thrill to his playing and enjoy the hundreds of unique photos that are posted (some of them I reproduce here).

My blog began:

Gene Krupa (standing) having fun with Buddy Rich

I have written previously about my life long hero, GENE KRUPA who thrilled me and still thrills me whenever I hear him playing or I see a photo of Gene hunched over that great Slingerland marine pearl drum kit, I get a shiver of expectation and excitement - When I was young, Gene changed my life dramatically and so did BUDDY RICH (and later on the artistry of Tony Williams, Philly Joe Jones, Joe Morello, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and all those incredible drummers from Baby Dodds, Zooty Singleton, Chick Webb to todays geniuses, such as Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta and Steve Smith to name just a few) - these greats are just a few of the names that made me create the Great Drummer Group - However, I digress... .

Gene Krupa said that Buddy Rich was the greatest drummer that ever lived" - I don't truly know how you define "the greatest" - music is not a competition and should never be -  although musicians have always enjoyed the fun and excitement of the jam session and having the opportunity to test their skills against their contemporaries. Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich featured in crowd thrilling 'Drum Battles' during their performances at Jazz at the Philharmonic during the 1950's - You should listen to the "Original Drum Battle" available on CD on Verve Records - there is a short but furious feature with Buddy and Gene firing on all guns at Carnegie Hall in 1952 - the album also features a magnificent drum solo by Gene Krupa on his iconic Drum Boogie - a must for all students of drumming.

However, despite the friendly rivalry that existed between Gene and Buddy and the raucous, wildly excited reception the audiences gave these battling warriors - Buddy Rich (younger than Gene) was being recognised as the finest drummer in the world by other drummers and musicians who watched in awe as Buddy played at speeds and with technical ability that was beyond anything people had seen or heard before. 

Buddy was a phenomenon - he had a power and rhythmic radar that enabled him to play anything - couldn't read music, but once he heard a chart, he had it engraved in his head and could play like he'd been playing it all his life. Please listen to some of the marvellous albums Buddy recorded with his band - such as Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, Big Swing Face, This one's for Basie, Keep the Customer Satisfied and anything you can lay your hands on by Buddy. 

Buddy was undoubtedly (in my opinion and that of millions of others) the greatest jazz drummer of all time. Of course there were other brilliant players and I learned from all of them. As I wrote earlier, people have often asked me who is the best drummer in the world?  - and I have always replied that comparisons are completely unnecessary, because its like comparing Rachmaninoff to Prokofiev, Oscar Peterson with Bill Evans, Benny Goodman to Artie Shaw, Stan Getz to Lester Young...Just enjoy them all!

There is no question that Buddy had a technique that was unparalleled in the world of jazz - his playing was just sensational at every conceivable level

However, for all students of drumming it's also important to explore, discover and enjoy the wonders of all those other great players that enhanced our lives. Go back in time and enjoy the playing of Warren 'Baby' Dodds, Zutty Singleton, Tony Sbargo, to Big 'Sid' Catlett, Sonny Greer, Chick Webb, Papa Jo Jones, Dave Tough - onto Don Lamond, Jack Sperling, Shelly Manne, Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Clarke, Philly Joe Jones, Tony Williams, Art Taylor, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Louis Hayes, Roy Haynes to todays heroes from Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Gadd, Peter Erskine, Dave Weckle, Steve Smith, Jeff Hamilton…. and many more - please check these out, watch and listen to the recordings and video clips on YouTube - learn from them and simply enjoy the music...

I knew Buddy personally - at that time after a number of years of playing drums professionally, I was beginning my career as a producer of concerts and of course my greatest thrill was to present Buddy and his Orchestra at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon in the early 1970's. Subsequently, I partnered with my dear friend and colleague Brian Theobald (of BPR/Ronnie Scott Productions) to produce tours of Buddy in the UK and throughout Europe. We had enormous fun producing and promoting these shows. 

I loved Buddy - he wasn't always easy, but he was the consummate professional on stage - I don't think I have ever met any other musician who gave more of himself than Buddy - when he was onstage - it was everything and he gave it everything he could. People ask, wasn't Buddy a nightmare to work with? The simple answer is "no". Buddy was funny, acerbic, tough, could be very kind and appreciative, if you were also highly professional. If you weren't, then the sticks would fly, but he was right. Buddy expected the people working with him, to be as professional and hard working as he was. I had massive respect for Buddy,and I like to think maybe, he had the same for me and Brian.

Buddy playing with the Big Four - Charlie Ventura, Chubby Jackson on bass and Marty Napoleon on piano

I never forgot speaking backstage at Ronnie Scott's Club in London the day he performed there some five or six weeks after he had been through quadruple heart bye-pass surgery - Buddy had just come off stage having just  performed a blistering set including a blinding drum solo - and I asked him why was he doing this only weeks after such serious surgery? Buddy looked at me and dismissively said "what else can I do - sit at home?" - I laughed so much bless him. But that was Buddy through and through - the doctors had told him he wouldn't play again for at least for a year of recuperation and maybe never - and there he was playing as great as ever a few weeks after his operation. 

Buddy was one of a kind - he could be acerbic and irascible, but he was also very funny, kind and considerate - I miss Buddy very much and thank goodness his daughter Cathy Rich and Greg carry on the flame and release recordings of Buddy and keeps this genius name alive for all to enjoy. Cathy, Greg and the band are soon performing at Ronnie Scott's club in London

Bernard 'Buddy' Rich started to play drums at the tender age of around 18 months!! As you will see from his biography below (thanks to drummerworld.com):

Audiences globally loved seeing Buddy on the Muppets and his drum battle with Animal

“Arguably the greatest jazz drummer of all time, the legendary Buddy Rich exhibited his love for music through the dedication of his life to the art. His was a career that spanned seven decades, beginning when Rich was 18 months old and continuing until his death in 1987. Immensely gifted, Rich could play with remarkable speed and dexterity despite the fact that he never received a formal lesson and apparently refused to practice outside of his performances.

Born Bernard Rich to vaudevillians Robert and Bess Rich on September 30, 1917, the famed drummer was introduced to audiences at a very young age. By 1921, he was a seasoned solo performer with his vaudeville act, "Traps the Drum Wonder." With his natural sense of rhythm, Rich performed regularly on Broadway at the age of four. At the peak of Rich's early career, he was the second-highest paid child entertainer in the world.

Rich's jazz career began in 1937 when he began playing with Joe Marsala at New York's Hickory House. By 1939, he had joined Tommy Dorsey's band, and he later went on to play with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Ventura, Louis Armstrong and Gene Krupa. Rich was regularly featured in Jazz at the Philharmonic during the late 40sand early 50's. He also appeared in such Hollywood films as Symphony of Swing (1939), Ship Ahoy (1942) and How's About It (1943).

Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Rich toured with his own bands and opened two nightclubs, Buddy's Place and Buddy's Place II. Both clubs were regularly filled to capacity by fans of the great master drummer. After opening Buddy's Place II, Rich introduced new tunes with elements of rock into his repertoire, demonstrating his ability to adapt to his audience's changing tastes and establishing himself as a great rock drummer.

Known for his caustic humor, Rich was a favorite on several television talk shows including the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, the Mike Douglas Show, the Dick Cavett Show and the Merv Griffin Show. During these appearances, Rich entertained audiences through his constant sparring with the hosts and his slights of various pop singers.

This famed musician received outstanding recognition throughout his career. The Downbeat Magazine Hall of Fame Award, the Modern Drummer Magazine Hall of Fame Award and the Jazz Unlimited Immortals of Jazz Award are just a few of his numerous honors. Rich gained international attention for such master compositions as his 10-minute West Side Story medley. During his lengthy career, Rich toured around the globe, performing for millions of fans and several world leaders including the King of Thailand, the Queen of England, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and King Hussein of Jordan.

On April 2, 1987, Rich died of heart failure following surgery for a malignant brain tumor. Long-time friend, Frank Sinatra, presented the eulogy at Rich's funeral. Today, Buddy Rich is remembered as one of history's greatest musicians. According to jazz legend and one of the greatest drummers of all time Gene Krupa, "Buddy Rich was the greatest drummer ever to have drawn breath."

A poster from one of our UK and European tours

Thanks for the music and for your life BUDDY - we love you always RIP

Thanks for reading

Peter (aka Geoffrey Martin)