Buddy Rich Quotes

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Buddy Rich

Profession : Musician

Birth : September 30, 1917

But I think that any young drummer starting out today should get himself a great teacher and learn all there is to know about the instrument that he wants to play.

Buddy Rich

But, I don't think any arranger should ever write a drum part for a drummer because if a drummer can't create his own Interpretation of the chart and he plays everything that's written, he becomes mechanical; he has no freedom.

Buddy Rich

I think it's a fallacy that the harder you practice the better you get.

Buddy Rich

Almost everything I've done, I've done through my own creativity. I don't think I ever had to listen to anyone else to learn how to play drums. I wish I could say that for about ten thousand other drummers.

Buddy Rich

So, to come In with a set routine it's something I've never believed in. It should depend on how you feel, because you play what you feel.

Buddy Rich

I think the drummer should sit back there and play some drums, and never mind about the tunes. Just get up there and wail behind whoever is sitting up there playing the solo. And this is what is lacking, definitely lacking in music today.

Buddy Rich

Well, I never really practiced because I never had the opportunity to practice.

Buddy Rich

So, practice, particularly after you've attained a job, any kind of job, like playing with a four piece band, that's... an opportunity to develop.

Buddy Rich

I mean, I think I liked every band I ever played in because each band was different, each band had a different concept, and each band leader was different... different personalities and musical tastes.

Buddy Rich

I play a percussion instrument, not a musical saw; it needs no amplification. Where it's needed, they put a microphone in front of the bass drum. But, I don't think it's necessary to play that way every night.

Buddy Rich

Every drummer that had a name, had a name because of his individual playing. He didn't sound like anybody else, So everybody that I ever listened to, in some form, influenced my taste.

Buddy Rich

If he's a true symphony artist, he knows better than that because he knows that the only truly creative musician is the jazz musician.

Buddy Rich

There were so many individual styles thirty or forty years ago.

Buddy Rich

They're simply following what was laid down in front and they play the same thing. So, there's no great challenge In being a classical drummer.

Buddy Rich

It takes us about four or five days to get an album out.

Buddy Rich

And, well of course, Count Basie, and I think all of the black bands of the late thirties and early forties, bands with real players. They had an influence on everybody, not just drummers.

Buddy Rich

I think at one time every drummer wanted to play like Krupa or wanted to win a Gene Krupa drum contest. This is the big inspiration for drummers and naturally it has to be the same way for me.

Buddy Rich

You only get better by playing.

Buddy Rich

But primarily, the drummer's supposed to sit back there and swing the band.

Buddy Rich

And, you know, I think the original recording of Ravel's Bolero, probably whoever played percussion on that, will never have It played better than that.

Buddy Rich