Buddy Rich

Buddy Rich was a legendary American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is widely considered one of the most influential drummers in history. Rich was famous for his virtuoso technique, which refers to his extreme skill and mastery. He was also known for his immense power and incredible speed on the drum set. Rich viewed the drummer as the "quarterback" of a musical group. He believed the drummer was responsible for directing the band and driving the music forward.

Rich's musical journey began in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. He was born to Jewish parents, Bess Skolnik and Robert Rich, who were both American vaudevillians. Vaudeville was a type of variety entertainment. Rich began drumming at only two years old. By 18 months, he was performing in a sailor suit behind a large bass and snare drum. He would finish his act by emerging from behind the drums to tap-dance. By age four, he was headlining on Broadway under the name "Baby Traps the Drum Wonder." By age 15, he was a highly successful entertainer. He earned a weekly salary of $1,000, making him the second-highest-paid child entertainer of the 1930s, behind only actor Jackie Coogan.

His professional jazz career took off in 1937 when he worked with clarinetist Joe Marsala. He later joined major big bands led by musicians like Bunny Berigan and Artie Shaw. Rich had a complicated relationship with bandleaders. Artie Shaw once questioned if Rich was playing for the band or himself. Rich admitted he played for himself and the audience. From 1939 to 1942, he played with the Tommy Dorsey band. Between 1942 and 1944, Rich served in the United States Marine Corps. He worked as a Judo instructor during his service. He was discharged in 1944 for medical reasons and returned to the Dorsey band.

Rich utilized specific technical methods to achieve his famous sound. He was an advocate of the traditional grip when holding his drumsticks. However, he occasionally used a matched grip when playing the toms, which are the drums of varying sizes. He was known for impressive "party tricks" like cross-sticking, where he crossed his arms over each other. He also performed a fast roll known as a stick-trick. This involved slapping two drumsticks together in a circular motion. To prevent his solos from becoming repetitive, he used contrasting dynamics. He would move from explosive, loud playing to very quiet passages. In one technique, he would play on the rim of the snare drum to change the sound.

One of the most unique aspects of Rich's talent was his ability to play without reading sheet music. Most professional musicians rely on written notes to play. Rich preferred to use his memory instead. During rehearsals, he would sit in the audience and listen to his drum roadie play the parts. He could often memorize a musical chart after hearing it just once. He knew exactly how many measures a song had and what his role was. He believed that playing with a real band was more important than sitting alone practicing rudiments. He famously stated that you can only truly improve by playing with others.

Rich found significant success in the mid-1960s. In 1966, he formed the Buddy Rich Big Band, also known as The Big Band Machine. This was a notable achievement because big band music had become less popular by that time. He also recorded a big-band arrangement of songs from the musical West Side Story. This specific medley was very challenging for him. It took almost one month of constant rehearsal to perfect the arrangement.

He also collaborated with diverse musicians, such as the Indian tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha, on the album Rich à la Rakha in 1968.

Beyond live performances, Rich was a frequent presence on television. He appeared on The Steve Allen Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He and Johnny Carson were lifelong friends. One of his most famous televised moments occurred in 1981 on The Muppet Show. In this appearance, he engaged in a drum battle with the Muppet character Animal. He also participated in famous televised drum battles against other great drummers like Gene Krupa and Louie Bellson. His influence reached many young musicians, especially after a 1973 PBS broadcast of his concert in Rochester, New York.