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Buddy Rich

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Bernard Buddy Rich (1917 to 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor and bandleader, born in Brooklyn. His parents were vaudeville performers and he became part of their act at the age of eighteen months. At four he was on Broadway as Baby Traps the Drum Wonder, and as a teenager he was one of the best-paid child performers of the 1930s. In 1937 he began to play jazz, with Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie and Harry James, among others. In 1942 he joined the Marines. In 1946 he started a band of his own with the support of Frank Sinatra.

Music and breakthrough

In 1956 he made the album Krupa and Rich with Gene Krupa, on which they traded drum solos for six minutes in Bernie's Tune. In 1959 Rich versus Roach followed, with Max Roach. He also played on sessions for Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and the Oscar Peterson trio. In 1968 he made Rich à la Rakha with the tabla player Alla Rakha. From 1966 until his death he led the Buddy Rich Big Band, at a time when big bands had gone out of fashion. An arrangement of West Side Story became a fixture of his performances. Rich could not read sheet music and learned his parts by heart.

Influence

He was known for technical virtuosity, power and speed and is regarded as one of the most influential drummers of all time. He held that the drummer is the real quarterback of a band.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Bernie's Tune on Krupa and Rich and notice how the two drummers alternate. Try to hear where Rich shows his speed and power.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: Artists