I've wondered about how often did the famous drummers, ie. Krupa and
Rich, receive new drums??? Was it a yearly event, or when?? It would
be interesting to know how many sets over the years Krupa and Rich did
receive over the years. Anyone out there know?? Thanks.
I read in Rob Cook's Ludwig book that Buddy Had a habit of giving away his kits so Ludwig had to constantly supply him with new kits. I think he said Buddy gave away 30 kits in one year in the early 60's.
I dont know if you know this Rogersfreak, but Rogers endorser drums in many cases during the late 50's and early 60's had oversized logos. See Buddy Rich's set on the cover of the 62r catalog.
Rogersoholic!...
I can see why you would think that, ESPECIALLY after a look at the Rogers 62R Catalog cover.. except .. it is not the case! The ENLARGED Rogers "script" on the cover shot of Buddy and his Celebrity's was artistic license if you will. The Rogers "script" on all his drums were always in the normal size... they never actually made them that large. I suspect the Ad Men did that kind of like what we see on cereal boxes today: "Enlarged to show texture"... At this time in the companies history, the Rogers logo wasn't the LARGE "R" that we know today... it was the much smaller Rogers script in an oval. I think the "script" on Buddy's toms was enlarged on the front of the catalog so people could SEE that they were ROGERS. I have a LOT of media covering Buddy's entire career, but mostly from 1949 through 1982... thus I have pics from this era, and the Rogers "script" is all in the normal size on Buddy's Celebrity's!
Tommyp
I've wondered about how often did the famous drummers, ie. Krupa and Rich, receive new drums??? Was it a yearly event, or when?? It would be interesting to know how many sets over the years Krupa and Rich did receive over the years. Anyone out there know?? Thanks.
Buddy was good like that. Whether it was Johnny Carson, Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis, Mel Torme and a ton more he gave 'em away.
Slingerland I believe, they (the sets) were on demand so to to speak, if he wanted a set, he had Slingerland put one together for whom ever they were destined for.
As far as Ludwig goes I'm not sure. Tommyp will more than likely be able to calrify and verify this much more specificly than I can, certainly from the Rogers and Slingerland perspective is my guess.
BGT
BGT!...
Too funny! Actually, Buddy was the WORST with his Ludwig endorsement... and it was his LAST TIME with them too. It didn't end well. It got to the point where the Ludwig Drum Company kept a few BR model sets built and cased ready to go at ALL TIMES. Buddy gave those away like drinking a glass of water. William F. Ludwig Jr. was NOT a fan of Buddy Rich, especially so during the last endorsement period: 1977 to 1980. Buddy WAS quite the gentleman while with Rogers compared to Ludwig though. He was very fond of Joe Thompson and did in fact like Rogers drums... until CBS stepped in and bought the company of course, as everyone knows!
Tommyp
BGT!...Too funny! Actually, Buddy was the WORST with his Ludwig endorsement... and it was his LAST TIME with them too. It didn't end well. It got to the point where the Ludwig Drum Company kept a few BR model sets built and cased ready to go at ALL TIMES. Buddy gave those away like drinking a glass of water. William F. Ludwig Jr. was NOT a fan of Buddy Rich, especially so during the last endorsement period: 1977 to 1980. Buddy WAS quite the gentleman while with Rogers compared to Ludwig though. He was very fond of Joe Thompson and did in fact like Rogers drums... until CBS stepped in and bought the company of course, as everyone knows!Tommyp
Tommy, that is FUNNY. My good friend here in MA who studied with Bob Varney who had played with Tommy Dorsey, Stan Kenton and Jimmy Mc Partland among others as well and being a Slingerland endorsee for many years, use to say that there wasn't a lot of love lost between Buddy and Bill Jr. or for that matter Tommy Dorsey either.........hahaha!! Something about doing something on Tommy's grave after he died Buddy said to Tommy one night :-)! Tommy had a habit if he had hair across "himself", he'd tear up the pay checks in front of the guys if they didn't play up to his standards, and laugh while doing it.
I think we can see where Buddy may have got some of his taskmastership from eh?
That's great insight as to the Rogers time, I knew he was very fond of the "Rogers sound", but am not that familar with his relationship in terms of how he was with Joe, other than he love the drums.
Bill
BGT
I have it on very good authority that Rogers was contracted to provide Buddy with two kits per year, but that he rarely took both sets. Perhaps that is why we rarely see a BR Rogers kit around. I can't speak to the other companies and endorsers.
I have it on very good authority that Rogers was contracted to provide Buddy with two kits per year, but that he rarely took both sets. Perhaps that is why we rarely see a BR Rogers kit around. I can't speak to the other companies and endorsers.
Powertone!...
Yeah, gotta agree with that. I do seem to recall hearing/reading the same thing. Only a couple of his Rogers sets have ever been talked about with regard to "later ownership"... unlike some of his Slingerland sets, and ESPECIALLY his Ludwig sets. There were quite a few of those out there that were owned/played by Buddy at one time. Again though, Buddy was quite fond of Joe Thompson, and did in fact like Rogers drums. He didn't give Rogers anywhere near the hassles that he bestowed upon Slingerland, and ESPECIALLY Ludwig between 1977 and 1980!
Tommyp
I have it on very good authority that Rogers was contracted to provide Buddy with two kits per year, but that he rarely took both sets. Perhaps that is why we rarely see a BR Rogers kit around. I can't speak to the other companies and endorsers.
Through my teacher Phil Stanger, who was good friends with Barrett Deems, had said similar to me once about Slingerland drums, that an endorser was only supposed to get just two sets a year. I imagine the drum companies wanted their endorsers to always have the lastest, and greatest they had to offer back then.
And although I have never had personal dealings with Barrett, or was ever close to him like Phil was, it sounded like he also played games with the sets according to Phil, either giving them away, or selling them outright.
Thus, Barrett, like perhaps so many other pros were constantly at odds with drum companies over their contractual agreements.
Phil as well was a Sonor Endorser back in the 60's, but I don't ever recall Phil being able to pull such with Sonor. Mark
