Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987)[1] was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time.[2]
"Mr. Drums" redirects here; for one of the two albums with this title, see Mr. Drums: Buddy Rich & His Band Live on King Street, San Francisco. "Buddy Rich Band" also redirects here; for the album, see Buddy Rich Band (album).
Buddy Rich
Bernard Rich
- Traps
- The Drum Wonder
- Mr. Drums
September 30, 1917
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
April 2, 1987 (aged 69)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Musician
- songwriter
- conductor
- bandleader
Drums
1921–1987
Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, United States.[1] He discovered his affinity for jazz music at a young age and began drumming at the age of two. He began playing jazz in 1937, working with acts such as Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, and Harry James. From 1942 to 1944, Rich served in the U.S. Marines. From 1945 to 1948, he led the Buddy Rich Orchestra.[3] In 1966, he recorded a big-band style arrangement of songs from West Side Story. He found lasting success in 1966 with the formation of the Buddy Rich Big Band, also billed as the Buddy Rich Band and The Big Band Machine.
Rich was known for his virtuoso technique, power, and speed.[4] He was an advocate of the traditional grip, though he occasionally used matched grip when playing the toms. Despite his commercial success and musical talent, Rich never learned how to read sheet music, preferring to listen to drum parts and play them from memory.
Early life and career[edit]
Rich was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents Bess Skolnik and Robert Rich, both American vaudevillians.[5]: 6 Before he turned two, he was part of his parents' act in vaudeville, but on breaks he would sneak into the orchestra pit and try to get the drummer's sticks. Rich would often sneak into jazz clubs at an age when he looked old enough to sit on the drum set.[6] He was on Broadway as Baby Traps the Drum Wonder at age four, playing "The Stars and Stripes Forever" on a drum.[7] He was a singer and tap dancer.[4] In his teens he led a band and toured in the U.S. and Australia. At 15 he became the second highest paid child entertainer behind Jackie Coogan during the 1930s.[7]
Legacy[edit]
Rich's technique, including speed, smooth execution and precision, is one of the most coveted in drumming and has become a common standard. Gene Krupa described him as "the greatest drummer ever to have drawn breath".[33] Roger Taylor, drummer of Queen, acknowledged Rich as the best drummer he ever saw for sheer technique.[47] Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker has credited Rich as the greatest drummer of all time.[48]
Rich's influence extends from jazz to rock music, including drummers such as Dave Weckl,[49] Vinnie Colaiuta,[50] Adam Nussbaum,[51] Simon Phillips,[52] Hal Blaine,[53] John Bonham,[54] Carl Palmer,[55] Ian Paice,[56] Gregg Bissonette,[57] Jojo Mayer,[58] Tré Cool,[59] and Bill Ward.[60] Phil Collins stopped using two bass drums and started playing the hi-hat after reading Rich's opinion on the importance of the hi-hat.[61]
Awards and honors[edit]
In 1980, Rich was awarded an honorary doctorate of music from Berklee College of Music.[62]
In 1986, a year before his death, Rich was elected into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in the category of bandleader, and drum set player.[63]
On September 30, 2017, Rich was honored with a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.[64]
In 2016, readers of Rolling Stone magazine ranked Rich No. 15 in their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of all time.[65] In a readers' poll in 2011, he ranked No. 6.[66]
Instruments[edit]
Rich was known as a performer and endorser of Ludwig, Slingerland, and Rogers drums.[67] While endorsing Slingerland in the '60s and '70s, Rich sometimes used a Fibes snare drum together with a Slingerland drum kit.[68] He switched exclusively to Ludwig in the late 1970s through the early 1980s. While recovering from a heart attack in 1983, Rich was presented with a 1940s-vintage Slingerland Radio King set, refurbished by Joe MacSweeney of Eames Drums,[69] which he used until his death in 1987. Rich's typical setup included a 14"×24" bass drum, a 9"×13" mounted tom, two 16"×16" floor toms (with the second tom usually serving as a towel holder), and a 5.5"×14" snare drum. His cymbals were typically Avedis Zildjian: 14" New Beat hi-hats, 20" medium ride, 8" splash, two 18" crashes (thin and medium-thin).[70] Sometimes a 6" splash and later a 22" swish.[71] He also used Remo drumheads and Slingerland drumsticks. He also had his own signature sticks. He used Ludwig Speed King or a Rogers bass drum pedal at various times in his career.