Buddy Rich Discography

Related Artists

Songs By

Sonny Bono :: Bob Mintzer :: Joe Zawinul :: Don Menza :: Frank Signorelli :: Fred Fisher :: Lionel Hampton :: Irving Mills :: Matty Malneck :: Oliver Nelson :: Horace Silver :: Bob Florence :: Billy Strayhorn :: Allyn Ferguson :: Bill Holman :: Count Basie :: George Gershwin :: Stephen Sondheim :: Harold Arlen :: Bill Potts

Member Of

Lester Young Trio

Influenced By

Sonny Greer :: Woody Herman :: Chick Webb

Followers

Joe Morello :: Ronnie Bedford :: Mike Freeman :: J.C. Heard :: Charlie Persip :: Klaus Weiss :: Bobby Sanabria :: Cozy Cole :: Chico Hamilton

Similar Artists

Butch Miles :: Danny D`Imperio :: Louie Bellson :: Joe Morello :: Mel Lewis :: Jo Jones :: Dave Tough

Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, bandleader and former Marine. Rich was billed as "the world`s greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuoso technique, power, and speed. Rich was born in Brooklyn, New York to vaudevillians Robert and Bess Rich.[2] His talent for rhythm was first noted by his father, who saw that Buddy could keep a steady beat with spoons at the age of one. He began playing drums in vaudeville when he was 18 months old, billed as "Traps the Drum Wonder." At the peak of Rich`s childhood career, he was reportedly the second-highest paid child entertainer in the world (after Jackie Coogan). At 11 he was performing as a bandleader. He received no formal drum instruction, and went so far as to claim that instruction would only degrade his musical talent. He also never admitted to practicing, claiming to play the drums only during performances. He expressed great admiration for, and was influenced by, the playing of Chick Webb, Gene Krupa, Dave Tough, and Jo Jones, among others. He first played jazz in 1937 with Joe Marsala`s group with guitarist Jack Lemaire, then played with Bunny Berigan (1938) and Artie Shaw (1939). In 1939, Rich taught drums to the young Mel Brooks, and persuaded Artie Shaw to allow a 13-year-old Brooks to attend Shaw`s recording sessions in Manhattan.

He was good friends with Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Gene Krupa, and Nat King Cole.