From the Road → Multiple Personality Bandleaders
This musing is a result of an Email question from a fan asking about Buddy Rich. Mel Torme’ and Buddy were close friends so I am often asked about him.
XXXXX wrote:
Are you a Buddy Rich fan? I found this on Myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=26003923
I heard Buddy was a real terror to work for…lol!
Boy could play though!
Hi XXXXX,
I was asked to play for Buddy Rich in 1978. I turned it down. Even though I was playing shows in the Pocono Mountains I still hadn’t been playing very long at that point. He had a reputation for being a real prick and my gender dysphoria wasn’t exactly making me a pillar of strength.
I did wind up playing for Woody Herman instead in 1981. He was a nice person and playing in his band, The Young Thundering Herd, was an experience I’ll never forget.
In hindsight I wish that I would’ve tried playing for Buddy, he was an amazing player.
Mel Torme’ and his drummer Donnie Osborne talked about Buddy Rich all of the time. I know every Buddy Rich story known to man (or woman).
It’s unfortunate that a lot of people form their opinions based on the tapes of him blowing a gasket on the band bus. From what I’ve heard from the people who were there at the time, sometimes the band deserved it.
He was, (as were most of the band leaders who were sidemen with Tommy Dorsey), a person with multiple personalities. Hint, hint.
xo,
Jennifer
March 28, 2008
