Ah... but there is! CLICK this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Rich Scroll DOWN to "Instruments"... and there it is. It's not as complete as his actual endorsements were, but it's enough to let the casual reader know that he did in fact play/endorse certain drums/cymbals. I have researched his COMPLETE endorsement timeline with start/stop dates, etc. encompassing his COMPLETE endorsement history. Wiki falls a tad... short. But, it is there!

Tommyp

It also goes one better and explains why Buddy had super chops.....

..He held a Black belt in Karate........

I know under "buddy rich" it mentions ludwig, but if you type in "ludwig" and go to the "ludwig" page, it talks about the history etc. and mentions every other drummer that ever played ludwig "EXCEPT" buddy rich.

just thought that strange

Another B.R. question (unrelated to his drumming):

Wikipedia states that he quit drumming in 1942 and enlisted in the Marine Corps. I was not aware of this. Was he a combat veteran of WWII, or was he employed in more of a celebrity/P.R. role? Did he play drums in the USMC band? What was his service record?

Just curious,

Mike

maybe this is of help. http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608000243/Buddy-Rich.html

"In 1942, the year after the United States became involved in World War II, Rich left the Dorsey band and enlisted in the Marines. He never saw active duty and in 1944 was discharged for medical reasons."

Yep, that answered it. Thanks!

Mike

I doubt any drum company actually enjoyed their association with Buddy as they knew he'd leave to play another maker's instrument for more money. Keep on Pl

Well yes... but no. How can THAT be you ask? Buddy didn't start out constantly switching drum companies for "the best deal"... not at all! His first endorsement was with Ludwig in 1919, but we can't really count that as he was but 2 years old and part of his family's Vaudville act. His REAL first endorsement was with Slingerland in 1932, and he stayed 'till 1945!, after that... William Ludwig Senior got BR to come aboard with Ludwig in 1946, and BR stayed with them 'till 1959. If you do the math, you will see that Buddy was NOT hopping all over the place with regard to his equipment needs/endorsements... yet. Rogers brought Buddy into the fold in 1960, and fact of the matter is: Buddy LOVED Rogers drums and especially so Joe Thompson. There was NO bad blood while he was with Rogers... 'till it wasn't "really" Rogers anymore and became CBS/Rogers. That took 7 years to happen!, so again... no jumping around here either. NOW the jumping around starts!... and continues 'till 1983 when he started playing the restored 1940's Slingerland Radio King's.. ( which were FREE and presented to him by Joe McSweeney of the EAMES Drum Company after Joe had completely refurbished them ) .. as after 1980, Buddy had NO drum endorsement deal as all the drum companies had pretty much had it with him. So!...

... it was only AFTER 1967 that BR began "whoring" with regard to drum deals/compensation. Up 'till then though, no issues as he was staying with a drum company on average of 8 to 10 years. As to "did the drum companies enjoy their association with Buddy"... again, yes and no! He could be, and many times was... difficult. But, he SOLD drums for those companies though, and they knew it... especially so through his prime which was right on through his 2nd Slingerland endorsement which ended in 1976. A GREAT story that is too!, but best saved for my "book".

Tommyp

I met buddy when I was 16 or 17. I think 1986 or 1985.... My friend and I, both drummers, heard he was playing in seaside heights, a shore town here in NJ. My mom drove us over and dropped us off. After waiting in line, we were told we were not allowed in. (underage for a nightclub) So we sat at the stage door entrance and listened. During the first intermission buddy came through the stage door we were sitting against and proceeded up to the boardwalk for a smoke. We were both paranoid to approach him, but I mustered up enough courage and went up to him and asked for an autograph. I didn't have any paper, so he signed the inside of a match book cover. He actually was pleasant about it. ...after his smokes he went back in and we sat and listened to the rest of the show at the door......from what we could hear...it was amazing......I'll never forget the experience