Buddy Rich

By: Arshdeep Singh

Panesar
 Introduction
 His full name is Bernard Rich
 Buddy Rich is another name.
 American Jazz Drummer
 Birth: September 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New
York, United States
 Death: April 2, 1987, in Los Angeles,
California
 Born into a Vaudevillian family
 Father: Robert Rich
 Mother: Bess Skolnik
 Siblings: Marjorie Rich, Martin Rich, Jo Rich
 Musical
Upbringing
 18 months old – Started playing drums
 His family supported him as they worked in
the Vaudeville
 6 years old – Toured Australia, under his
parent’s guidance
 He was given the name “Baby Traps – the
Drum Wonder” around this time
 Jo Jones – one of his biggest musical
influencers
 Jo Jones – American Jazz drummer,
Bandleader, encouraged the use of brushes on
drums
 Big Break
 In the late 30’s – played with a few important groups
– Artie Shaw Big Band
– Bunny Berigan Big Band
– Tommy Dorsey’s Big Band
 Late 30’s – played Jazz
 His first major recording was with the Vic Schoen
Orchestra at the age of 21
 1938 – His big break came as he joined Tommy Dorsey
and his Orchestra
 A special Big Band because it included…
– Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Connie Haines, and
Buddy Rich
 1940 – their first recording – ‘Quiet Please’ from the
album ‘Tommy Dorsey Collection feat. Frank Sinatra
Vol. 2’
 Career
Highlights
 1942 –1944: Joined the United States Marine Corps
 Early 50’s – Buddy Rich led various big bands
because of the financial support given to Buddy Rich
by Frank Sinatra
– Buddy Rich Orchestra
– Buddy Rich Big Band
– Buddy Rich Band
– The Big Band Machine
 1940 – 1965, around his Big Break he played with
many incredible musicians
– Benny Carter
– Harry James
– Les Brown
– Charlie Ventura
 1950 – Bernard Rich was featured on an album that
Max Roach played in. The Album – Charlie Parker
 Career
Highlights
 Buddy Rich also came on many shows
– The Steve Allen show
 1954 – he was earning $1,500/week and he was the highest-paid
sideman at that time
 1955 – Famous album called Bernie’s Tune – Krupa and Rich
 1966 – Launched his album Swingin’ New Big Band (After his
first heart attack in1959)
 Around 1975 – PBS T.V. broadcasted his bands and his
performance
 1981 – Drum battle on the Muppet show (Muppet Character
Animal and Buddy Rich)
 Some of his famous performances:
(1) ‘Quiet Please’ from the album, ‘The Tommy Dorsey
Collection feat. Frank Sinatra Vol. 2’ (1940)
(2) ‘Not So Quiet Please’ from the album, ‘Weary Blues’ (1942)
(3) ‘Laguna Leap (Take 3)’ from the album, ‘Anatomy of a Jam
Session’ (1945)
 Their Importance
in Jazz History
 Musical innovator
– Drumstick crossovers
– Extensive use of Hi-Hat Cymbals during a
drum solo.
 A quote from Gene Krupa to Buddy Rich
“the greatest drummer ever to have drawn
breath.”
 He was always confident in his drumming skills
 He contributed his entire life to Drums
 His recordings or performances teach us how to play
better in difficult scenarios
 He knows the type of Flavor to add during the solos
and throughout the song, this makes him one of the
best drummers that has ever lived.
 The Drum Battle
https://youtu.be/G6cFDPIyQUU
 “Bernie’s Tune” – Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa
 6 minute Drum battle
 It’s significant because …
– Only recording where these drummers are
playing continuously
– It stores a substantial amount of
drumming techniques and it is especially
influential
– Buddy Rich played with great technicality
– Gene Krupa was an imaginative drummer
in this recording.
 Bibliography
 https://drummingrevie
w.com/buddy-rich/

 https://jazzfuel.com/b
est-buddy-rich-album
s/

 https://www.liveabout
.com/buddy-rich-biog
raphy-4173193#:~:te
 Thank you
for listening