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Welcome to MUSIC CIRCLE Bernard “Buddy“ Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Known as a virtuoso with phenomenal power and speed, he had his own big band and performed with jazz greats including Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, and Harry James. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, raised by family of Jewish-American vaudevillians. His father claimed that his son could keep a beat with spoons by age 1. He discovered his affinity for jazz music at a young age and began drumming at the age of 2. At age 3, Rich began appearing on the vaudeville stage as “Baby Traps the Drum Wonder,“ despite having no formal training. At age 11, Buddy Rich became a bandleader. However, in 1929, the negative economic impact of the Great Depression destroyed many careers in entertainment. Buddy's father, Robert, retired from vaudeville in 1931, and Rich himself strugg
