[Dixielandjazz] Jazz Wax-- Interview with Bobby Shew about Buddy Rich Band

[Harry Callaghan]

I remember reading (possibly in George T. Simon's "The Big Bands") of the
time
when Rich bribed some girl to approach Sinatra and ask him for his autograph
(back when
both were with Tommy Dorsey's orchestra.

Of course, I may be parahrasing the actual dialogue but essentially after
Frank gave the girl
his autograph, she asked for two more.  Frank said, "I suppose these are for
a couple of your friends?"

She replied, "No, Mr. Sinatra, but I can trade three of yours and get one of
Bob Eberly" (who was at the time singing with brother Jimmy's orchestra.

Forgive me if I have them confused but I know that while they were brothers,
I believe Bob spelled his name as shown and brother Ray, with the Glenn
Miller Orchestra, spelled it Eberle, although I could have them reversed.

What their names were at birth I do not know as I was not around back then.

Also, there was a time when Sinatra reportedly hurled a pitcher of ice water
at Rich, missing him but observers said he might have killed him if it hit
him square in the head.

Caught Rich and his perhaps 16-piece band in NY's Central Park in the early
70s.  At the time Schaefer beer was presenting jazz concerts there for $5 a
head (if you paid $5 for your head, they would let you bring in your entire
body)  They would feature the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Lou Rawls, Ramsey
Lewis Trio and many others.

The number he played that night that I was most impressed with (and was
unable to find on a CD until just a few years ago) was a medley from
"Midnight Cowboy" with Harry Nilsson's "Everybody's Talkin" interwoven with
John Barry's theme from the movie.and a coupla other less significant
numbers that made up the soundtrack on the film.

I have always considered him the greatest drummer of all time, although I
know many will argue Gene Krupa......and Louis Bellson was no slouch either.

Tides
HC


On 2/26/10, Norman Vickers <nvickers1 at cox.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> To:  Musicians and Jazzfans list;  DJML
>
> From: Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola
>
>
>
> Today's Jazz Wax interview continues with trumpeter Bobby Shew about his
> time in Buddy Rich Band.  There some great photos as well.  It's too long
> to
> post and DJML wouldn't get  the pix.
>
> One can subscribe for e-mail.  Just search Jazz Wax and it will come up. In
> the right hand column, one may access previous interviews.
>
>
>
> Permit me one anecdote:  I was on the board, at one point, of our local
> theater which brought in traveling shows.  There was a newsletter for
> theater directors which reviewed performances.  There would be questions
> about financing, audience appeal, etc.  One of the questions was whether it
> was recommended for other theaters or would you invite that performer back.
> I looked up Buddy Rich performances and the comments that the performance
> was really good but they would not invite the band back because Rich would
> berate the theater audience or band members during the show.
>
>
>
> Most on the list know that the "lectures" on the band bus by Rich were
> notorious.  Someone surreptitiously tape recorded those and sent around to
> previous members of the band.  Unintended, the tapes got into general
> circulation.  I've never heard them-only heard about them-and that was
> enough for me. In today's interview, Bobby Shew mentions Rich's
> personality,
> some of his background in growing up in a Vaudeville family and Rich's
> contentious relationship with his own father.
>
>
>
>
> --end--
>
>
>
>
>
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