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Arguably the greatest jazz drummer of all time, the legendary
Buddy Rich exhibited his love for music through the dedication
of his life to the art. His was a career that spanned seven
decades, beginning when Rich was 18 months old and continuing
until his death in 1987. Immensely gifted, Rich could play with
remarkable speed and dexterity despite the fact that he never
received a formal lesson and refused to practice outside of
his performances.
Born Bernard Rich to vaudevillians Robert and Bess Rich on September 30, 1917, the famed drummer was introduced to audiences at a very young age. By 1921, he was a seasoned solo performer with his vaudeville act, "Traps the Drum Wonder." With his natural sense of rhythm, Rich performed regularly on Broadway at the age of four. At the peak of Rich's early career, he was the second-highest paid child entertainer in the world.
Rich's jazz career began in 1937 when he began playing
with Joe Marsala at New York's Hickory House. By 1939,
he had joined Tommy Dorsey's band, and he later went on
to play with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie
Ventura, Louis Armstrong and Gene Krupa. Rich was regularly
featured in Jazz at the Philharmonic during the late 1940s.
He also appeared in such Hollywood films as Symphony
of Swing (1939), Ship Ahoy (1942) and How's
About It (1943).
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Rich toured with his own
bands and opened two nightclubs, Buddy's Place and Buddy's
Place II. Both clubs were regularly filled to capacity
by fans of the great master drummer. After opening Buddy's
Place II, Rich introduced new tunes with elements of rock
into his repertoire, demonstrating his ability to adapt
to his audience's changing tastes and establishing himself
as a great rock drummer.
Known for his caustic humor, Rich was a favorite on several television talk shows including the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, the Mike Douglas Show, the Dick Cavett Show and the Merv Griffin Show. During these appearances, audiences were entertained by Rich's constant sparring with the hosts and his slights of various pop singers.
This famed musician received outstanding recognition throughout
his career. The Downbeat Magazine Hall of Fame Award,
the Modern Drummer Magazine Hall of Fame Award and the
Jazz Unlimited Immortals of Jazz Award are just a few
of his numerous honors. Rich gained international attention
for such master compositions as his 10-minute West
Side Story medley. During his lengthy career, Rich
toured around the globe, performing for millions of fans
and several world leaders including the King of Thailand, King Hussein of Jordan
the Queen of England, and U.S. presidents Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and
Ronald Reagan.
On April 2, 1987, Rich died of heart failure following
surgery for a malignant brain tumor. Longtime friend,
Frank Sinatra, spoke a touching eulogy at Rich's funeral.
Today, Buddy Rich is remembered as one of history's greatest
musicians. According to jazz legend Gene Krupa, Rich was
"The greatest drummer ever to have drawn breath."
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