Buddy Rich Documetary: Kickstarter

[Steve Holmes]

Lucas!!!

Good point.

=)

[gretsch-o-rama]

I played a few gigs with one of buddy's trombone players from the 80's named Ken Crane. Awesome bone player. anyway, he said buddy would only get cranky when his wife was around because he couldn't smoke pot when she was. Ken had a lot of respect and love for buddy too. I agree with Paul. You can't judge people by what you find out about them through the internet.

[Kurtis]

buddy smokin a J. nice. that would be a fun hang. smokin a J with buddy rich.

[treeinrock]

I asked my dad if he would take me to a Buddy Rich concert in Minneapolis (Carleton Dinner Theater -circa 1980). He did, and after the show I told my dad i wanted to meet Buddy. My dad said let's go find his bus. We found his bus and dad said for me to ask the roadie if I could meet Buddy and the guy instantly let me into the bus. I got inside and Buddy's tour manager let me back into the bus and I had a picture taken with Buddy. He was smoking a cigarette and threw it down and someone took a picture with me crouched down next to Buddy. He was super cool (signed my compilation vinyl) and made the rest of my year or more. I thought I was the shit! Getting a picture with Buddy. My dad knew just how to do it....
I wasn't scared because of my Dad.

I later read the Mel Torme biography on Buddy "Trap the Boy Drum Wonder" - http://www.amazon.com/Traps-Drum-Wonder ... rum+wonder.

I really started to understand psychology after reading that book. One never knows what kind of background a person has had and made me realize that even though I haven't had a certain experience as other people, I needed room to support another level of empathy.

If I remember correctly Buddy was a huge revenue maker for his family at a very young age (8 or 9 yrs old) and was not allowed to play with other kids since he may hurt his fingers or arms. This may have had influenced his personality later in life. Mel also said he was a complex man and that he also could be very sweet.

There is a really candid interview on youtube in Buddy's Place (Buddy's NYC club) where he talks politics and such.

I later played in the Buddy Rich ensemble in college and the conductor had played in Buddy's band in the 70s and had the utmost respect for Buddy.

[langmick]

I wrote a reply and it apparently got eaten by the net.

If I understand it, Buddy got a lot of his guys from college...

Buddy barely went to schooling, of any kind.

I've worked for guys like Buddy. For the most part, they expected a lot...hell, my Grandpa was this harsh to me, an Italian guy who came here not knowing English...

if you were a dude out of college...you had a lot of "book learning" and needed to see how the real world works...

That these guys got shit on is not surprising.

And what else is interesting...Buddy was a Marine.

So how is this surprising or uncommon?

[nomsgmusic]

All good points (Steve, Lucas) we ALL have our flaws, and leading a band can sometimes be quite difficult, and they were different (and less politically correct) times. I have often wondered what some of the locker room speeches from people like Lombardi, Billy Martin, Mike Keenan, and Red Auerbach would sound like?

I too have a similar story about meeting Buddy on his bus after a concert as well. But here's my point.

The whole Cathy Rich thing just sort of creeps me out, sorry. I love my father as much as anyone, but no matter how "great" he was (is) at what he did (and he was a HS Guidance counselor, in a huge school system for 45 years!) at some point it's time to create "your own story," and better other peoples lives, or give back, or something positive. Yes, I know the Rich family created a scholarship fund that Berklee doles out.

Monk's son (also a drummer) created a tuition free (I think) SCHOOL, and is actively educating a lot of young musicians every year, and does a lot of music out reach. You don't see Babe Ruth's, Roberto Clemente's, Leonard Bernstein's, Louis Jordan's, Sinatra's, Dizzy's... kids out there creating a cottage industry on their father's legacy's. It's just Cathy and (one of) Miles' kids. I admired their fathers as much (maybe more) as the next guy, but....

I would much rather see a documentary about Louis Bellson, I have been waiting forever for the "Miles film," or even better yet...

This drummer documentary HAS already been made, and I will see this as soon as it comes out!!!
http://savoyking.com/

I think we know as much about Buddy as we are EVER going to know. Read Mel Torme's "Traps The Boy Wonder," and Doug Merriwether's "Mister I am the Band," and watch the MANY DVD's out there of his drumming, featuring his oft berated (but sometimes EXCEPTIONAL!) bands, that's good enough for me!!!

MSG

[Julián Fernández]

Of course man... There´s plenty of arrogant (douches?) artists. Talent overcomes a lot...

Who? Name a modern day band leader who is known for berating those under him

I think you are confusing talent with money and artists for pop stars.

I didn´t said band leaders... Phil Spector comes to my mind. Didn´t Bjork beat the crap out of a reporter on an airport?
Many rappers too (including that douchebag that hit his partner and somehow still gets air tv time). This one may not be talented (as many others) but still manage to get away with murder...

[druid13]

yeah and I have to say lately I am disappointed in his daughter's constant ranting about the upcoming election on FB...AND the demeaning attitude toward those who clearly don't buy her views.

"Unfriend"

[MRhet]

yeah and I have to say lately I am disappointed in his daughter's constant ranting about the upcoming election on FB...AND the demeaning attitude toward those who clearly don't buy her views.

Since I think Facebook is one of the silliest inventions of humankind, I have no idea what her Facebook says -- I have no idea what side she is arguing for (perhaps I agree with her, perhaps I don't agree) -- I think, though, she has a right to use her page anyway she wants to, doesn't she? If she's demeaning people, that's a bad thing, but I suspect she will pay a price for that.