Buddy Rich - Buddy & Soul. I am not sure if there are any Buddy Rich fans here.

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The year I was 16 years old Buddy Rich came to town. The radio station I worked for did a live broadcast from the venue he was to play at and the guy in charge of "artist handling" was out sick and I, for some reason got the job. I only knew him from seeing him perform on the Tonight Show. He was direct and a bit brusk. I thought he might be an asshole if crossed.

In one of the two interviews with our "On Air Personality" he said something to the effect that "in most bands, jazz combos, big bands, and pop groups the weakest player was the drummer. After all, they are mostly just asked to keep time and as long as they do that they have a job." I was sure he was an asshole as was the reporter from the local paper who said as much in the next day's article.

Then he played. Buddy walked it as well as he talked it. Wow.

This is from 9 years earlier. Buddy was more pop and less jazz than when I saw him but both versions of Greensleeves were/are memorable.