Jazz					Train
	Buddy Rich 1917 - 1987 Buddy Rich was arguably the greatest jazz drummer of all time, he had incredible technique, speed, power, and the ability to put together unbelievable drum solos. Born Bernard Rich to vaudevillians Robert and Bess Rich on September 30, 1917. He first began in vaudeville at the age of 18 months, earning the nickname 'Baby Traps the Drum Wonder' by 1921, he was a seasoned solo performer with his vaudeville act. With natural sense of rhythm, Rich performed regularly on Broadway at the age of four he was the second-highest paid child entertainer in the world. By 1938 he had discovered jazz and started playing with Joe Marsala's combo. Rich was soon working with the bands of Bunny Berigan, and Tommy Dorsey, he developing into one of the best big-band drummers of the swing period, most of 1939 was with Artie Shaw at a time when the clarinettist had the most popular swing band, and then from 1939-1945 (except for a stint in the military) he was making history with Tommy Dorsey. He also appeared in such Hollywood films as Symphony of Swing (1939), Ship Ahoy (1942) and How's About It (1943). In 1946, he formed his own band with financial help from Frank Sinatra with whom the belligerent drummer had had stormy relations since their Dorsey days. The band was not a success so he started to tour with Jazz at the Philharmonic, he recorded with a countless number of stars in the 1950s these included Charlie Parker, Lionel Hampton, Lester Young and Art Tatum, and between 1954 -1955 worked with Les Brown, Charlie Ventura, Tommy Dorsey. Buddy also worked on and off with Harry James until 966. A heart attack in 1959 only slowed him down briefly and, although he contemplated becoming a full-time vocalist, Rich never gave up the drums. In 1966, Buddy Rich beat the odds by a return to fronting his own bands putting together a successful big band that would be his main outlet for his final 20 years. His heart began giving him trouble starting in 1983, but Rich never gave his music less than 100 percent. Two albums from 1968 represent the band's best work ‘Take It Away’ and ‘Mercy, Mercy’ the second included altoist Art Pepper. 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. 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. In 1971, Rich signed to RCA and recorded in the jazz-rock vein using an increased rhythm section. In 1974 Rich took some time off briefly from his big band forming a small group with Sal Nistico, Sonny Fortune, Joe Romano, Jack Wilkins, Kenny Baron, and John Bunch to play at his New York club, Buddy's Place. Returning to the big-band life, Rich suffered a serious heart attack in January '83, resulting in open-heart surgery, but after less than two months' convalescence, Buddy was back on the road, raring to take his orchestra on a UK tour. In the '80s his band has toured with the extraordinary tenor Steve Marcus as a featured front-line soloist and occasionally the band had appeared with the four-piece vocal group Zee which includes Rich's daughter Cathy. On April 2, 1987, Rich died of heart failure following surgery for a malignant brain tumour. Buddy received outstanding recognition throughout his career he gained international attention for such master compositions as his 10-minute West Side Story medley. He toured all around the globe, performing for millions of fans and several world leaders. Buddy Rich was a controversial figure; he pushed himself to the end, a perfectionist who expected the same. Some rate him as the greatest drummer of all time, and others as insensitive and flashy. According to jazz legend Gene Krupa, Rich was "The greatest drummer ever to have drawn breath."
				Live Music Magazine 2006
			JAZZ TRAIN