Buddy Rich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Buddy Rich
Rich at the Arcadia Ballroom, May 1947
Background information
Birth name	Bernard Rich
Also known as	Traps The Drum Wonder Mr. Drums
Born	(1917-09-30)September 30, 1917 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	April 2, 1987(1987-04-02) (aged 69) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Jazz big band swing
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter conductor bandleader
Instruments	Drums
Years active	1921–1987
Labels	Clef Norgran Verve RCA Pacific Jazz Liberty Blue Note Groove Merchant EmArcy Mercury MCA Argo
Associated acts	Joe Marsala Bunny Berigan Artie Shaw Tommy Dorsey Benny Carter Harry James Les Brown Frank Sinatra Charlie Ventura Jazz at the Philharmonic Nat King Cole Ella Fitzgerald Gene Krupa Louis Armstrong Neil Peart

Bernard "Buddy" Rich (born September 30, 1917 – died April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, and bandleader. He is known as one of the most important drummers of all time.

Buddy Rich was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He loved jazz music from a very young age. He started playing the drums when he was only two years old! He began playing jazz professionally in 1937. He worked with famous bands like Bunny Berigan and Tommy Dorsey. From 1942 to 1944, Rich was in the U.S. Marines. After that, he led his own groups, including the Buddy Rich Orchestra. In 1966, he formed the Buddy Rich Big Band, which became very successful. This band was also called the Buddy Rich Band or The Big Band Machine.

Rich was famous for his amazing drumming skills. He played with incredible power and speed. He usually held his drumsticks in a special way called the traditional grip. Even though he was a musical genius, Buddy never learned to read sheet music. He preferred to listen to the drum parts and play them from memory.

Buddy Rich's Early Life

Buddy Rich was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. His parents, Bess Skolnik and Robert Rich, were both vaudeville performers. Vaudeville was a type of live show with many different acts. Before he was two years old, Buddy was already part of his parents' act. During breaks, he would try to get the drummer's sticks.

Buddy often snuck into jazz clubs when he was young. He looked old enough to sit at the drum set. At age four, he was on Broadway as "Baby Traps the Drum Wonder." He played "The Stars and Stripes Forever" on a drum. He was also a singer and a tap dancer. As a teenager, he led his own band and toured around the U.S. and Australia. By the time he was 15, he was one of the highest-paid child entertainers of the 1930s.

Buddy Rich's Amazing Career

Buddy Rich in New York City in August 1946

Becoming a Jazz Star

Buddy Rich's jazz career started in 1937. He played with clarinetist Joe Marsala. He then joined big bands led by Bunny Berigan and Artie Shaw. When he was home from touring, he even gave drum lessons to a young Mel Brooks for six months. At 21, he made his first big recording with the Vic Schoen Orchestra, which played with the Andrews Sisters.

In 1942, Rich left the Dorsey band to join the United States Marine Corps. He worked as a judo instructor and did not go into combat. He left the Marines in 1944 for health reasons. After that, he went back to playing with the Dorsey band. In 1946, with help from Frank Sinatra, he started his own band. He continued to lead bands on and off until the early 1950s.

After World War II, Rich formed his own big band. They often played at the famous Apollo Theater. Frank Sinatra even sang with them sometimes. Besides Tommy Dorsey, Rich also played with other jazz greats. These included Benny Carter, Harry James, Les Brown, and Charlie Parker.

In 1955, Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa made an album together called Krupa and Rich. It had a song called "Bernie's Tune" where they took turns playing drum solos for six minutes!

From 1966 until he passed away, Buddy Rich led very successful big bands. This was at a time when big bands were not as popular. He still played in clubs, but he said most of his band's shows were at schools and universities. He also played drums for many recordings. Some famous artists he played with were Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. In 1968, Rich worked with the Indian tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha on an album called Rich à la Rakha.

He performed a special big-band version of songs from the musical West Side Story. This was on his 1966 album Swingin' New Big Band. The "West Side Story Medley" showed how well Rich could make his drumming fit with the band. He found the music very hard at first. It took him almost a month to learn it perfectly. This medley then became a favorite part of his live shows.

Buddy on TV!

In the 1950s, Buddy Rich was often a guest on TV shows. He appeared on The Steve Allen Show and especially The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Buddy and Johnny Carson were good friends. Johnny Carson also loved playing the drums.

In 1973, a TV channel called PBS showed one of Buddy Rich's concerts. This was the first time many drummers saw Buddy play a full concert. Many drummers today say this show inspired them. One of his most famous TV appearances was in 1981 on The Muppet Show. He had an amazing drum battle with the Muppet drummer Animal. Rich also had famous drum battles on TV with other great drummers like Gene Krupa and Louie Bellson.

His Unique Drumming Style

Buddy Rich performing at a concert in Cologne, Germany on March 3, 1977

Buddy Rich said that drummers like Gene Krupa and Chick Webb influenced him.

He usually held his drumsticks using the traditional grip. But he would sometimes use the matched grip when playing the toms. This was especially when he crossed his arms over each other, which was a cool trick he did. Another trick he used was a very fast roll. He would hit two drumsticks together in a circle. He often used different ways of playing to keep his long drum solos exciting. He would play loud and fast, then switch to quieter parts.

One part of his solos often started with a simple roll on the snare drum. He would play faster and louder. Then, he would slowly move his sticks closer to the rim of the drum, getting quieter. He would even play on the rim itself while still keeping the speed. Then he would do the opposite, moving back to the center of the snare and getting louder. Even though he was known for powerful drumming, he also used brushes for softer sounds.

In 1942, Rich and Henry Adler wrote a book called Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments. This book is still very popular for learning drum basics. Henry Adler said that Buddy was a natural talent. He said Buddy already played amazing when they met. Adler helped Buddy learn to read music, but Buddy mostly learned by listening.

When asked if Buddy could read music, a trumpet player in his band, Bobby Shew, said no. He said Buddy would just listen to new songs once and remember them. Buddy would know exactly how they went and what he needed to play.

Buddy Rich didn't think practicing for many hours was important. He said, "You can only get better by playing." He believed that playing with a band teaches you style and how to play well with others. He also said practicing was boring! He advised against playing drums with bare hands. He said, "Why destroy your hands?"

Buddy Rich's Life Off Stage

Buddy Rich married Marie Allison, a dancer, on April 24, 1953. They stayed married until his death in 1987. They had a daughter named Cathy in 1954. Cathy later became a singer and even led her father's band. Buddy Rich was also the cousin of actor Jonathan Haze. He lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Buddy Rich was known for having a strong personality. He sometimes got angry, but he also praised his musicians often. He had a friendly rivalry with Frank Sinatra, and they remained lifelong friends. Sinatra even spoke at Buddy's funeral.

Buddy Rich also had a black belt in karate. This helped him with his health. He believed that the drummer was the most important part of a band. He thought drummers were the "quarterback" of the band.

Buddy Rich was not a fan of rock music or country music. However, when rock drummers came to meet him after shows, he was always polite.

His Final Years and Legacy

Buddy Rich continued to tour and perform until the end of his life. In March 1987, he was touring in New York when he had a health problem. Doctors found a brain tumor and removed it. He was discharged a week later but continued to receive treatments. On April 2, 1987, he passed away from unexpected heart and breathing problems. He was 69 years old. His wife Marie and daughter Cathy buried him in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Since Buddy Rich's death, many concerts have been held to honor him. In 1994, an album called Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich was released. It featured famous drummers like Neil Peart (from the band Rush) playing Buddy Rich's songs. A second album came out in 1997. Phil Collins also took part in a DVD tribute to Buddy Rich.

His Lasting Influence

Buddy Rich's drumming style is still admired today. His speed, smooth playing, and exactness are a standard for drummers. Gene Krupa called him "the greatest drummer ever." Roger Taylor, the drummer for Queen, said Rich was the best drummer he ever saw. Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker also calls Rich the greatest drummer of all time.

Rich's influence can be seen in both jazz and rock music. Many drummers, including Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, and John Bonham (from Led Zeppelin), have been inspired by him. Phil Collins even changed his drumming style after reading Buddy Rich's thoughts on the importance of the hi-hat cymbal.

Awards and Honors

• In 1980, Buddy Rich received an honorary music degree from Berklee College of Music.
• In 1986, he was chosen for the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
• On September 30, 2017, Buddy Rich received a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
• In 2016, readers of Rolling Stone magazine ranked Rich No. 15 on their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of all time.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

• 1946: The Lester Young Buddy Rich Trio with Lester Young (Norgran, 1955)
• 1952–53: The Flip Phillips Buddy Rich Trio (Clef, 1953)
• 1953–54: The Swinging Buddy Rich (Norgran, 1954)
• 1955: Sing and Swing with Buddy Rich (Norgran, 1955)
• 1955: Buddy and Sweets (Norgran, 1955)
• 1955: The Wailing Buddy Rich (Norgran, 1955)
• 1955: Krupa and Rich (Clef, 1956)
• 1955: The Lionel Hampton Art Tatum Buddy Rich Trio (Clef, 1955)
• 1956: Buddy Rich Sings Johnny Mercer (Verve, 1956)
• 1956: This One's for Basie (Verve, 1957) – re-issued as Big Band Shout (1967)
• 1957: Buddy Rich Just Sings (Verve, 1957)
• 1957: Buddy Rich in Miami (Verve, 1958) – live
• 1959: Richcraft (Mercury, 1959) – also The Rich Rebellion (Wing)
• 1959: Rich Versus Roach (Mercury, 1959)
• 1959: The Voice is Rich (Mercury, 1959)
• 1960: The Driver (EmArcy, 1960)
• 1960: Playtime (Argo, 1961)
• 1961: Blues Caravan (Verve, 1962)
• 1962: Burnin' Beat with Gene Krupa (Verve, 1962)
• 1965: Are You Ready for This? (Roost, 1971)
• 1966: Swingin' New Big Band (Pacific Jazz/Liberty, 1966) – live
• 1966: The Sounds of '66 with Sammy Davis Jr. (Reprise, 1966) – live
• 1967: Big Swing Face (Pacific Jazz, 1967) – live
• 1967: The New One! (Pacific Jazz, 1968) – aka Take it Away in UK
• 1968: Rich à la Rakha (World Pacific, 1968)
• 1968: Mercy, Mercy (Pacific Jazz, 1968) – live at Caesars Palace
• 1969: Buddy & Soul (Pacific Jazz, 1969) – live at the Whisky a Go Go
• 1970: Keep the Customer Satisfied (Liberty, 1970) – live at Tropicana Las Vegas
• 1971: A Different Drummer (RCA, 1971) – aka Superstar in UK
• 1971: Rich in London (RCA, 1972) – live. expanded UK release – Buddy Rich: Very Alive at Ronnie Scott's (RCA (UK)).
• 1971: Conversations (EMI-Parlophone, 1972)
• 1972: Stick It (RCA, 1972)
• 1973: The Roar of '74 (Groove Merchant, 1974)
• 1974: Very Live at Buddy's Place (Groove Merchant, 1974) – live
• 1974: Transition with Lionel Hampton (Groove Merchant, 1974)
• 1974: The Last Blues Album Volume 1 (Groove Merchant, 1974)
• 1975?: Big Band Machine (Groove Merchant, 1975)
• 1976?: Speak No Evil (RCA, 1976)
• 1977: Buddy Rich Plays and Plays and Plays (RCA, 1977)
• 1977: Buddy Rich (PolJazz, 1977) – live at Klub Riviera Remont, Warsaw, Poland
• 1977: Lionel Hampton Presents Buddy Rich (Who's Who in Jazz, 1977) – aka Buddy's Cherokee... also released as The Sound of Jazz, Vol 10
• 1977: Class of '78 (Century, 1978) – also released as The Greatest Drummer That Ever Lived with "The Best Band I Ever Had" (1990)
• 1978: Together Again: For the First Time with Mel Tormé (Gryphon/Century, 1978) – aka When I Found You (1999)
• 1980: Live at Ronnie Scott's (DRG, 1980) – live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. aka The Man from Planet Jazz
• 1981?: Buddy Rich Band (MCA, 1981)
• 1982: Live at the 1982 Montreal Jazz Festival (Hudson Music, 1982)[DVD-Video +CD] – live
• 1983?: Rich and Famous (Amway, 1983) – aka The Magic of Buddy Rich and Buddy Rich – The Man
• 1985: Mr. Drums: ... Live on King Street, San Francisco (Cafe, 1986)[3LP] – live

Posthumous releases

• Europe '77 (Magic, 1993) – live rec. 1977
• Buddy Rich & His Big Band At Stadthalle Leonberg, Germany 10 July 1986 (Jazz Band, 1996) – rec. 1986
• Wham! The Buddy Rich Big Band Live (Label M, 2000) – rec. 1977–78
• No Funny Hats (Lightyear, 2004) – live rec. 1978 at Sacramento High School
• Time Out (Lightyear, 2007) – live rec. 1977–78
• Buddy Rich Up Close (Drum Channel, 2009)[DVD-Video] – live rec. 1982 at Statler Hotels
• The Solos (Lightyear Entertainment, 2014) – live rec. in the mid to late 1970s
• Birdland (Lightyear Entertainment, 2015) – rec. 1976–80
• Just In Time: The Final Recording (Gearbox, 2019) – live rec. 1986 at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club

Compilation albums

• The Drum Battle (Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich at JATP) (Verve, 1960)
• The Best of Buddy Rich (Pacific Jazz, 1964)
• Super Rich (Verve, 1969)
• The Best of Buddy Rich (World Pacific Jazz, 1969)
• Time Being (Bluebird/RCA, 1971)
• Buddy Rich Big Band (United Artists, 1972)
• Mr. Drums (Quintessence, 1978)
• Compact Jazz: Buddy Rich (Verve, 1987)
• Compact Jazz: Gene Krupa & Buddy Rich (Verve, 1990)
• No Jive (Novus, 1992)
• Buddy Rich: The Legendary '47–'48 Orchestra Vol. 1 (Hep, 1998)
• Buddy Rich: The Legendary '46–'48 Orchestra Vol. 2 (Hep, 1998)
• Classic EmArcy, Verve, Small Group Buddy Rich Sessions (Mosaic, 2005)

Instruments

Buddy Rich was known for using and supporting drum brands like Ludwig, Slingerland, and Rogers drums. In the 1960s and 70s, while working with Slingerland, he sometimes used a Fibes snare drum with his Slingerland drum kit. He switched completely to Ludwig drums in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

After a health issue in 1983, Buddy was given a special 1940s Slingerland Radio King drum set. He used this set until he passed away in 1987. His usual drum setup included a large bass drum, a mounted tom, and two floor toms. He also used a snare drum. His cymbals were usually Avedis Zildjian brand. He used Remo drumheads and Slingerland drumsticks.

See also

In Spanish: Buddy Rich para niños