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It was the summer of 1985 and Buddy was at the South Shore Music Circus near Boston, Massachusetts. Just before the show started, I saw Buddy seating people! He was the "acting" maitred. As he was seating customers he was telling jokes. Everyone in close proximity was laughing hysterically!
Suddenly I saw Buddy seating an elderly husband and wife. The wife said to Buddy, "Hey I'm here to see Buddy Rich, is he here yet"? Buddy said, "well I don't know but I'll have to play the first set for him if he doesn't show."
I was laughing so hard I was crying.
Buddy play his usual unbelievable self that night. I could write a million stories about his playing. Every time was a special happening ~John Georges
I was attending East Carolina University, which was a fair sized school in Eastern North Carolina at the time. It was sometime in February 1973. Buddy Rich was scheduled to play at Wright Auditorium ( a place for approximately 500 to 1000 people).
I was living in a dorm just a few feet from the auditorium. The day before Buddy and his band arrived we had one of the worst snow storms we had experienced in 10 years.
In eastern North Carolina there were no snow plows like in the Northern states or even in the western part of the state where snow was more prevalent. The roads were terrible. I didn't even want to go out of the dorm the snow was so deep. I decided to amble over to the auditorium the day Buddy's band was to arrive expecting that they would have canceled. That is what any rock band that would have come to East Carolina University would have done at the time.
I was shocked to find out that Buddy's band was already there and was setting up. I went to the concert that evening and the house was probably 1/3 full. That didn't matter to Buddy (at least he didn't indicate to the audience that he might have been disappointed by the low turnout).
Buddy made jokes of the difficulty they had getting there because of the snow. He and his band played as if there was a full house. They were spectacular.
I have always had a special admiration for Buddy after that. He was a true professional that never let his audience down. Buddy talked the talk and walked the walk. He was full of substance.
I am a lifelong fan of his and listen to his recordings over and over. Every time I listen to them I hear something different. Being a drummer off and on for almost 40 years, I appreciate Buddy's efforts at perfecting his sound throughout the length of his life. He has been an inspiration for me to continue my enjoyment of drumming.
I want to thank Cathy Rich for keeping his name alive and having a lot of his recordings put on CD, the Burning for Buddy series and helping inspire younger drummers by making it easier to obtain recordings by her father. She could have not paid any higher tribute and honor to her father. Thanks Cathy! ~Gary Salt
One of my memorable trips through BR Land took place in 1956 (I think). Buddy was breaking in his solo act at Larry Potter's Supper Club on Ventura Blvd in the San Fernando Valley (LA).
Jack Sperling and I went to see him one night. Johnny Carson was there, but this was before his Tonight Show days and he was still a game show host. Of course, there were a bunch of drummers in the crowd. One night, the entire percussion section of the San Francisco Symphony drove down to see him.
There was a comedian on the bill and the highlight of his opening act was to exit on one side of the stage, race around behind the stage, and emerge from a door on the other side of the stage. The night we were there, Buddy killed his routine by running out on stage and holding the stage left door closed so the comic couldn't emerge. Everyone thought that was funny, except the comic.
Buddy did his act, most of which can be seen on Jazz Legends Vol.1 clips from the Steve Allen Show. He sang and danced and finally did his drum number Drumocracy. He started by playing an open role on an old parade marching drum, then moved to two timpani's where he did some amazing cross mallet playing and then moved to the drum set for Battle Hymn of the Republic.
On the kit he had something to prove but not to all the drummers in the audience, but to Bob Yeager, owner of the Professional Drum Shop in Hollywood. Bob had fitted his kit with the brand new Remo plastic heads and told Buddy that they were unbreakable. Well! Buddy spent the entire gig at Larry Potters trying to break the heads. He tried everything.
The night we were there he was trying to break the snare head by playing a series of single strokes, raising his right hand and arm over his head while keeping the single stroke pattern going with his left hand, then smashing his right stick down on the snare as hard as he could. He did this several times.
Buddy never did break any heads but it was fun to watch. When the engagement was over, Bob Yeager took Buddy's bass drum head and displayed it at his shop. It had a 3/4 inch concave indention in it where Buddy had try to break it with his wooden beater.
I guess in fairness, you would have to say that, this time anyway, Remo Belli beat Buddy Rich! ~Buz Overbeck
I first saw Buddy at a concert in Coventry, England in 1967. I was 17 years-old then, it was his first tour to England, I then never missed a single tour of this country until his parting. On many occasions I spoke with him either prior to or after a concert. On every occasion he would exchange words and greetings. He was always very obliging. I went on to have the privilege to see him perform at least 35 times. Having gotten married, I then introduced my son to the concerts and to this day he to is a fanatic. Buddy gave me a single drum stick on two occasions and the pair will always adorn my study. I have kept all the programs from the concerts during those formidable years and treasure them. I could write for hours, but will merely end by saying I was privileged to see Buddy "live" on so many occasions that I feel proud and honored to have been part of an unrepeatable era. Thanks for the honor, Buddy. ~Paul Wilkinson
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