Buddy Rich

Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. – April 2, 1987, Los Angeles, California, U.S.) was an American jazz drummer, bandleader, and conductor renowned for his extraordinary technical skill, speed, and power. As of early 2026, while no universal or official ranking exists for the best drummers of all time, Buddy Rich is widely regarded as one of the greatest, with a January 2026 article describing him as "most people’s pick for the best drummer of all time" due to his exceptional technical skill, speed, and showmanship as a jazz legend.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, to vaudeville performers Robert and Bess Rich, he began drumming at just 18 months old and quickly became a child prodigy, performing as "Traps the Drum Wonder" in his parents' act by age two and earning the title of the second-highest paid child entertainer in the world during the 1920s. Self-taught with no formal lessons, Rich's career spanned seven decades, starting in vaudeville and transitioning to jazz in 1937 when he joined Joe Marsala's band, followed by stints with major orchestras led by Tommy Dorsey in 1939, Artie Shaw, and Harry James.

Bernard Rich, known professionally as Buddy Rich, was born on September 30, 1917, in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. His family was of Jewish-American heritage, with both parents actively involved in the vaudeville circuit, which shaped his early exposure to performance arts.