Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987)[1] was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader.

He began playing jazz in 1937, working with acts such as Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, and Harry James.

[5]: 6  At 18 months old, he became part of his parents' vaudeville act, dressed in a sailor suit playing an arrangement of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" behind a large bass and snare drum - an act which concluded with him emerging from behind the drums tap-dancing to thunderous applause.

[8] For Shaw's part, he felt that Rich didn't follow direction and finally asked the drummer, "Who are you playing for?

When Rich was home from touring with Shaw, he gave drum lessons to a 14-year-old Mel Brooks for six months.

[5]: 92, 95 [12] Following the war, Rich formed his own big band, which often played at the Apollo Theater and featured backing vocals from Frank Sinatra.

Especially notable were sessions for Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, and the Oscar Peterson trio with bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis.

He performed a big-band arrangement of a medley from West Side Story that was released on the 1966 album Swingin' New Big Band.

The "West Side Story Medley", arranged by Bill Reddie, highlighted Rich's ability to blend his drumming into the band.

[16] In 2002, a DVD was released called The Lost West Side Story Tapes that captured a 1985 performance of this along with other numbers.

[19][20][21] In 1973 PBS broadcast and syndicated Rich's February 6, 1973, performance at the Top of the Plaza in Rochester, New York.

[23] Rich's famous televised drum battles also included Gene Krupa, Ed Shaughnessy and Louie Bellson.

Another technique he used to impress was the stick-trick, a fast roll performed by slapping two drumsticks together in a circular motion using "taps" or single-stroke stickings.

On the album The Lionel Hampton Art Tatum Buddy Rich Trio (1955) he played with brushes almost exclusively.

[30] In March 1968 he was convicted of failing to report $50,000 of income in 1961 and was given five years' probation, fined $2,500 and ordered to pay the IRS $40,000.

Singer Dusty Springfield slapped him after several days of "putting up with Rich's insults and show-biz sabotage".

[36] According to bassist Bill Crow, Rich reacted strongly to Max Roach's increasing popularity when he was the drummer for Charlie Parker, especially when a jazz critic stated Roach had topped Rich as the world's greatest drummer.

[37] Drummer John JR Robinson told Crow he was with Roach when Rich drove by with a beautiful woman seated next to him and yelled, "Hey, Max!

[39] Although he threatened many times to fire members of his band, he seldom did so and, for the most part, praised his musicians in television and print interviews.

[42] During medical therapy following a brain tumor operation, a nurse inquiring about drug allergies asked Rich whether there was anything he couldn't take.

In early March 1987, he was touring in New York when he was hospitalized after suffering a paralysis on his left side that physicians believed had been caused by a stroke.

He was transferred to California to UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles for tests, where doctors discovered and removed a brain tumor on March 16.

On April 2, 1987, he died of unexpected respiratory and cardiac failure after a treatment related to the malignant brain tumor.

[44] His wife Marie and daughter Cathy buried him in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Produced by Rush drummer/lyricist Neil Peart, the album features performances of Rich staples by a number of jazz and rock drummers such as Joe Morello, Steve Gadd, Max Roach, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Simon Phillips, Steve Smith and Peart, accompanied by the Buddy Rich Big Band.

[46] Rich's technique, including speed, smooth execution and precision, is one of the most coveted in drumming and has become a common standard.

[48] Rich's influence extends from jazz to rock music, including drummers such as Dave Weckl,[49] Vinnie Colaiuta,[50] Adam Nussbaum,[51] Simon Phillips,[52] Hal Blaine,[53] John Bonham,[54] Carl Palmer,[55] Ian Paice,[56] Gregg Bissonette,[57] Jojo Mayer,[58] Tré Cool,[59] and Bill Ward.

[62] In 1986, a year before his death, Rich was elected into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in the category of bandleader, and drum set player.

While recovering from a heart attack in 1983, Rich was presented with a 1940s-vintage Slingerland Radio King set, refurbished by Joe MacSweeney of Eames Drums,[69] which he used until his death in 1987.

His cymbals were typically Avedis Zildjian: 14" New Beat hi-hats, 20" medium ride, 8" splash, two 18" crashes (thin and medium-thin).